CELTIC have racked up air miles as quickly as they have been gathering victories since they first hit the road with Tony Mowbray as tour leader.

That was seven weeks ago when they went all the way to Brisbane for a first pre-season game.

Now, with the Europa League trips to Israel, Germany and Austria looming, The Hoops' travel club is ready to pack their bags again.

But, tiring though it may be, Shaun Maloney can see a tangible benefit and is sure the travelling has helped the new arrivals feel right at home.

He told the Celtic View: "In some ways, it doesn't actually feel like we are only a couple of games into the SPL season.

"I think with the travelling we have had in pre-season, and the away games in Russia and London, it's felt a lot longer.

"That's something we've had to deal with. But the advantage of the travelling is that the group is together.

"We have signed Landry N'Guemo, Marco Fortune and Danny Fox, and they've settled in.

"It's been a pretty easy transition for them to come into the squad and they've all been impressive."

Fox is furthering his Celtic education in Toronto where he will line-up against Benfica in the early hours of tomorrow morning.

But Maloney is on home turf as he prepares to try and help Scotland win three vital World Cup qualifying points against Macedonia on Saturday.

It has added to an already busy first few months of the season, but he said: "I've been left out of Scotland squads before, and it hurts like hell.

"Any time you are called up by your country, it's a privilege, so I have no complaints about when games are played."