CELTIC got their bid to land a fifth consecutive Scottish title off to a winning start with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Ross County after the unfurling of the league flag at Celtic Park today.

But the win came at a cost as Leigh Griffiths, who had opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the fourth minute, hobbled off injured.

His departure immediately raised doubts about whether the striker will be available for the second leg of the Champions League third qualifying round match with FK Qarabag on Wednesday night

The Scotland internationalist has not started in any of his side’s three European outings - against FC Stjarnan and and Qarabag - so far in the 2015/16 campaign.

However, he came off the bench in the second leg of the second qualifying round over in Iceland and netted a goal in a 4-1 win.

And having the lightning-quick forward at his disposal will increase the chances of Ronny Deila’s side winning over in Azerbaijan and going through to the play-off stage.

Celtic only won 1-0 at home in the first leg in Glasgow on Wednesday night and will need to be at their best in Baku in order to get a result against opponents who caused them difficulties.

Deila has predicted his side will need to defend more in the rematch with Gurban Gurbanov’s team and try to grab an all-important away goal on the counter attack.

If Griffiths, who has played second fiddle to Nadir Ciftci in the Champions League so far, is fit it will enable his Norwegian manager to execute his intended game plan.

Deila stated after watching his charges defeat the Staggies that it was just a slight knock and he was optimistic the prolific marksman will be in contention for what is a massive fixture.

But the fact the 24-year-old, who looked in fine form during his short time on the park, did not complete the 90 minutes must be a slight concern given that Nir Bitton and Charlie Mulgrew are also doubts. 

The opening Ladbrokes Premiership match of the new season today was a celebration of the success Celtic enjoyed in the competition last term.

John Clark was on hand to do the honours before kick-off and the Lisbon Lion received a rapturous reception from the Hoops supporters as he joined club chairman Ian Bankier on the pitch.

It was also a special day for Kieran Tierney who made his first start for Celtic at Parkhead at left back at the tender age of 18.

Celtic had forged in front early on after Ross County defender Andrew Davies brought down Griffiths inside his own penalty area. The fouled player stroked a spot kick into the bottom right corner.

The former Hibs and Wolves man limped back to the halfway line after banging in his first league goal of the new term and it was clear all was not well. He lasted until the 20th minute when he was replaced by Stefan Scepovic.

The visitors had a great chance to draw level shortly after that when Dedryck Boyata gifted them possession with a slack pass. Jackson Irvine broke clear and forced Craig Gordon to hare off his line.

The Scotland internationalist brought him down and it looked to many inside the ground as if referee Willie Collum was going to brandish a red card.

But the match official only showed Gordon a yellow card and the relieved keeper then palmed the free-kick from Ian McShane wide of the goal.

Many Celtic fans felt that Davies should have been ordered off for his challenge on Griffiths earlier so the referee managed to upset both sets of supporters in the opening half an hour.

The home team forged further in front in 36 minutes when Stefan Johansen received the ball from Gary Mackay-Steven as he burst into the opposition area.

Johansen shot past County keeper Scott Fox and it appeared as though Celtic were on course to win by an emphatic margin.

However, the Highlanders regrouped and performed far better in the second half. Gordon did brilliantly to deny substitute Raffaele De Vita in the 65th minute.

Deila threw on Saidy Janko – another who made his first competitive appearance for the club – for Tierney and Kris Commons for Johansen.

The replacements were unable to add to their tally, but Celtic picked up all three points to move quickly to the top of the Premiership table.