A competition is brewing within the Celtic dressing room, but it is one that both fans and their manager will be welcoming it, because it is the competition between strikers of Anthony Stokes and Gary Cooper.

Anthony Stokes scored a hat-trick in the 5-0 demolition of St Mirren during the weekend in a match that has helped cause a real shift in the title race in the Scottish Premier League - not least because Kilmarnock managed a surprising 1-0 win over Rangers.

Celtic midfielder Joe Ledley believes that Celtic can still win the Scottish Premier League - though they might have to win all 26 remaining games, including two Old Firm derbies!

Speaking after another disappointing draw on Saturday, just hours after Rangers had walked off with another three points, Ledley is aware that the team is falling behind in the title race.

"We still believe and believe in the management, we just need to work harder."

Graham Carey has said that he is very keen to return to St Mirren from Celtic. The 22-year old appears to be surplus to requirements and has spent the majority of the last three seasons out on loan, including a successful spell in Paisley in 2010.. He said that he is now focusing on playing regularly and would consider a return to St Mirren if the opportunity arose.

"I don't know what the future holds for me," Carey said. “I am meeting with Celtic this week and try and get things moving on that front.

Celtic cruised to yet another win in the Scottish league against Berwick Rangers. The former Arsenal man’s first appearance in the famous hooped shirt is unlikely to live long in the memory but he promised that better is to come from him and his new team-mates.

“I’ve never experienced anything like it,” said the 32-year-old. “The local community deserve credit for getting the pitch playable but it was icy but you get on with it and I’m just glad that there isn’t a replay because we have enough games already.

Daryl Murphy has set his sights for all the trophies on offer this season with Celtic. Neil Lennon's Bhoys have already been knocked out of Europe but they have made a stunning start to the domestic campaign, winning all five of their SPL matches.

Celtic entertain Inverness in the third round of the Co-operative Insurance Cup on Wednesday night and Murphy is targeting success. "I think every competition we're left in now, especially the league, we are looking to win," said the 27-year-old, who joined from Sunderland this summer.

Celtic new boy Anthony Stokes says he has arrived at the club a more mature player after completing a transfer deadline day move.

Stokes put pen-to-paper on a four-year deal at the Glasgow giants following a reported £1.2million switch from SPL rivals Hibernian.

The deal has brought the 22-year-old to Parkhead three years after turning down the Old Firm club, who made overtures for the Irishman in 2007.

Stokes opted to join Sunderland instead, but after a punctuated spell in England, has finally made his way to Celtic.

Celtic have shown their interest in England international David James and are keen to sign him according to Lennon. Lennon has Pole Lukasz Zaluska and American Dominic Cervi but wants a major figure to compensate for the loss of Boruc, who has left for Fiorentina.

"We are still a long way off and it's early days in terms of negotiation," said the Celtic manager.

James' former club Portsmouth have withdrawn an offer they made in May.

The 39-year-old goalkeeper made 138 appearances for Pompey and, according to club administrator Andrew Andronikou, wanted to be their player-manager.

Celtic are edging closer to landing highly-rated Welsh midfielder Joe Ledley. The Cardiff City ace has visited the club’s Lennoxtown training complex and is in talks over a Bosman move, according to reports.

Ledley, valued at around £5 million, has been attracting the attention of several clubs in the English Premier League, with Celtic’s Glasgow rivals Rangers also having been linked with the player.

Willie McStay marked his return to coach Celtic's reserve side with a 4-0 victory over Dundee at Lennoxtown.

All four goals arrived in the second-half from Paddy McCourt, Paul McGowan and Morten Rasmussen (two).

Edson Braafheid, Zheng Zhi and Marc Crosas were among the other first-team stars included in the starting XI.

McStay resigned as head coach of Hungarian side Ujpest last week amid reports of financial problems, having arrived in at the club in July.

Interim Celtic manager Neil Lennon insists he has not discussed remaining permanently in post with the Glasgow club's board of directors.

Lennon, who took over from Tony Mowbray last month, says he is fully focused on recovering from Saturday's shock Scottish Cup defeat by Ross County.

"The situation remains the same from the day I took over after Tony left," Lennon told BBC Scotland.

"I'm not asking about it. I'm just too busy concentrating on things."