Shaun Maloney is confident that Celtic are beginning to see themselves as genuine contenders in this season’s Europa League.

Following a 4-2 triumph against Utrecht on Thursday, Martin O’Neill’s squad secured their spot in the knockout stage play-offs, where they will face VfB Stuttgart next month.

Under the veteran manager’s interim leadership, the team revitalized their chances of advancing with a significant victory at Feyenoord.

After earning a hard-fought draw in Bologna last week and securing a thrilling win over Utrecht, Maloney believes Celtic’s players will approach their upcoming match against the German side with newfound confidence.

“We had an extensive discussion before the Feyenoord game,” explained the interim assistant, “as our chances seemed evenly split, or perhaps even less favorable at that time.”

Celtic coach Shaun Maloney is relishing the chance to go up against VfB Stuttgart next month

Maloney scored in a 3-1 first-leg win over the Germans on the road to the 2003 UEFA Cup Final

Arne Engels and Auston Trusty were both on target against Utrecht on Thursday evening

“The tradition of the club almost requires that you have the belief and determination to achieve something significant in Europe. Plus, you know that fans have been planning these journeys for weeks and months ahead.”

‘The belief’s slowly growing. Probably the big turning point was the Feyenoord performance and result. Then we took that on to Bologna, really, because that last 20 minutes was very difficult (after Reo Hatate was sent off). 

‘We’ve then got to go and try and beat a really good side. In the last couple of months, we’ve shown we can.’

Celtic face Stuttgart at home in the first leg on February 19, with the return match in the MHPArena a week later. Currently sitting fifth in the Bundesliga, Sebastian Hoenes’ side finished 11th in the Europa League table on 15 points, 10 places and four points better off than the Parkhead men.

The tie is a rematch of the 2003 clash when O’Neill’s Celtic won on the road to the UEFA Cup final.

‘It’s a great tie,’ added Maloney. ‘It’s a brilliant game, brilliant for our supporters. From probably where we were post-Midtjylland to actually qualify, the players did a brilliant job.’

O’Neill is hopeful of landing three new signings before the transfer window closes on Monday.

A £6.5million deal for 23-year-old French winger Fares Ghedjemis is believed to be close, with negotiations with the right winger’s Italian club Frosinone at an advanced stage.

Maloney has been impressed with Tomas Cvancara and is confident there will be more arrivals

The Parkhead club are also in talks with Hungarian forward Damir Redzic of Slovak side DAC Dunajska Streda, but it seems more likely that Ghedjemis will arrive instead.

Maloney insisted he was ‘really happy’ with the quality of the two players who have already come in on loan, Julian Araujo and Tomas Cvancara.

‘I think they are types of players or profiles that we haven’t had,’ he said. ‘It’s really specific, the ones that we want to try and bring in. 

‘We feel that we’ve got a few that do the things that we need, particularly on that right side. Hopefully, we can get them in.

‘I think there were a few names mentioned on Thursday night with Martin, but we’re going to have to get pretty close. It’s getting to that point in the window.

‘Speaking with the board on a pretty regular basis, all of our staff, myself and Martin, we feel it’s close, but it has to be. It’s that sort of time of the month.

‘I we bring in another two or three, it would be a massive help. But they have to be the right ones. There is no need to bring in numbers.’