Shaun Maloney does not believe Celtic's hammering of Heart of Midlothian was a "seismic" moment in the season as the assistant manager looks for more improvement on Thursday against Celta Vigo in the Europa League.

Celtic suffered a sobering 4-1 Europa League defeat by Benfica in Lisbon last Thursday but responded on Sunday with a 7-1 demolition of visitors who took the title race to the last game of the season before losing out to the Glasgow outfit.

It was only a second win in six outings for Martin O'Neill's side in all competitions, but it took them four points clear of Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

Maloney, taking over media duties while O'Neill took care of a personal matter, was asked if Sunday's win was a turning point but replied: "No, it didn't feel that seismic, Hearts.

"I know it was a really good performance. Some of the attacking stuff was really good, but it doesn't feel like sort of big moment."

Earlier in the month, the Green Brigade ultras group revealed it was withdrawing from the home cup ticket scheme and would not attend any further Europa League ties at Celtic Park in protest at the running of the club.

Maloney recalled the closing games of last season and the finale against Hearts, when most of the fans in a full Celtic Park roared them on a comeback title win, as he hoped for a resolution.

"I think all of us, fans, staff, everyone, we were desperate to get that all the time," the former midfielder admitted.

"It's really difficult to sort of comment too much on that, but if we could get to that place again then it would be amazing.

"So it's a tough time again and hopefully that can get resolved, but it'll be more senior people than me that will do that."

Like Celtic, Celta Vigo have lost both their opening games in the Europa League, but around 3,000 fans are travelling to Glasgow and head coach Claudio Giraldez revealed he "received more requests than usual to come" to "one of the best stadiums in the world".

Hoping to make it "a special game" for them, he said: "We know it's a short competition this league.

"With eight games, we need to gain points as soon as possible, starting with three tomorrow. We need to play a good match on every level and we need to be calm."

Auston Trusty will miss out on Thursday for Celtic following the death of his father, with fellow centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers and right-back Alistair Johnston in training but not being considered for returns until the weekend game against Hibernian.

However, striker Callum Osmand has shrugged off a hamstring issue.

Former Celtic centre-half Carl Starfelt and Spain striker Borja Iglesias missed Celta Vigo's 2-1 win at home to Alavez on Sunday through injury and are unavailable again.

Veteran former Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso, right-back Javi Rueda and midfielder Aleix Febas all dropped out of the squad after Thursday's Europa League loss at home to Juventus.

Right-back Javi Rodriguez hopes to celebrate signing a contract extension until 2030 this week with a victory.