Celtic midfielder Massimo Donati believes team-mate Aiden McGeady could be a future European Footballer of the Year award winner.

Former AC Milan midfielder Donati has been so impressed by the Republic of Ireland winger he claims the youngster could have a glorious future in the game.

McGeady, 21, hit a hat-trick against Falkirk last week to take his goals tally to six for the season.

"I think a lot of him. The other day I was joking with Aiden and saying to him, 'When will you pick up the Golden Ball like Kaka?'.

"What I meant was that I think he has the potential to do that one day," Donati told Celtic View. "He is only 21 and with his age, style of play and potential, I think he has the talent to go very far in the game.

"Aiden is also a great guy and I rate him very highly."

With McGeady dazzling and summer signing Scott McDonald firing in goals for fun, Celtic have produced an attractive product on the field this season.

Their goals-per-game ratio is up on last season, but manager Gordon Strachan admits some of the "ruthless" element of their game may have gone since last term.

Strachan said: "Overall it's been a good 12 months and our football in the second part, since the start of this season, has improved I think.

"It's got better, it's livelier, there is more variation and we've scored more goals. We wanted to do that and we've managed it."

He added: "As a spectacle it's better to watch although we were maybe a bit more ruthless at times last season."