Celtic are hungry to go beyond last 16 in Champions League, says Beram Kayal We don't think the last 16 is the maximum possible for this team. I don't agree with the people who say it is. Maybe we can surprise them again. At last two full calendar months lie between Celtic and the next stage of their Champions League adventure and, without Europe to fatigue or distract them from their domestic pursuits, the probability is that by then they will have established a substantial lead in the Scottish Premier League. Saturday's win over St Mirren - coupled with results involving the teams immediately behind them - mean that Neil Lennon's players are four points clear with a game in hand and the attrition below them makes it likely that Celtic will push the advantage into double figures before long. As matters stand, quotidian domestic fixtures have lost their shine and attendances for these games have dropped alarmingly but understandably. Celtic have already played 10 Champions League qualifiers and group stage games and European commitments, while enticing and enjoyable, suck significant sums from the pockets of the Parkhead faithful. In combination with a recession far deeper than anything experienced in the lifetime of all but the oldest fans - plus the proximity of the festive season - it is no great surprise that even a sizeable number of season ticket holders appear to have become picky about what matches they will attend. In one respect - from Celtic's point of view, at least - there might be the consolation that the defence of their title can be secured to a marked degree before they have to attend to the Scottish Communities League Cup semi-final against St Mirren on Jan 27 and their William Hill Scottish Cup fifth-round tie at Raith Rovers a week later. "The SPL is very different from the Champions League and we are trying to change the mentality to make sure we also win games in the SPL," said Kayal. It is not easy to change from one to the other. We are in a good position now, four points clear with a game in hand. I think it is possible we can have a big advantage at the top of the SPL by the time the next Champions League game comes around. We try to do the maximum in the league, but it's not easy to play in four competitions. But we have a big squad and we will try to do the maximum in the SPL now, because we know it is important for us if we want to be in the Champions League again next season. It was in December last year that Kayal suffered an ankle ligament injury in an Old Firm game and was absent for most of the rest of the season, an absence that sharpened his appetite for playing duties. "It is not easy to be out injured for so long, especially when you come here from another country," Kayal said. You come here to do a job but you can't do it because you are injured. It is bad luck to be out for six months like I was. It is not easy to come back into the biggest team in Scotland and try to play at the highest level when the team is already winning. This is a good time for me to say thank you to the medical team at Celtic, the doctor and the fitness coach. They spent a lot of extra time with me to help me come back and play again. I will never forget that. St Mirren can hardly relish the prospect of meeting a Celtic team in full flow in the last four of the League Cup. Danny Lennon - as his namesake and Celtic counterpart agrees - favours a passing game that is easy on the eye when it flows but the Paisley side are in sore need of a sure foundation in defence. Second bottom of the table, their rate of their concession of goals is exceeded only by Dundee, in the drop spot. Celtic, by contrast, have far and away the best goal difference in the SPL - so emphatic, in fact, as to be the equivalent of an extra point. They don't need it, but it will be handy when European hostilities resume.