Celtic smashed eight goals past part-timers Stirling Albion in the Scottish League Cup last night.

Teenage striker Shaun Maloney marked his first Parkhead start with four goals, each of which were impressively taken. John Hartson marked a rare start with two more, while Olivier Tebily and Colin Healy were also on target.

The match was also notable as Morten Wieghorst's comeback game. It was his first top class appearance since April 8th last year, a 1-0 defeat at Hearts.

The Dane had been struck down by a rare brain bug - Guillaine-Varre syndrome, and at one stage it had not been clear whether he would survive.

Celtic took a 21st-minute lead when a corner was cleared only as far as Tebily, whose shot deflected in off Hartson.

Maloney slid in to make it 2-0 after Lubo Moravcik had rolled a precise pass from the right across the Stirling box.

The game was over by the 40th minute, when the fleet-footed Maloney made it 3-0 after Moravcik had put him away with a ball down the middle.