The German cap found the net against Celta Vigo - but it wasn't enough to secure a result in the Europa League

Three Europa League games, two goals. Pretty decent stats for a midfield player.

But Mika Baur is only concerned with one number and it doesn’t make great reading. Zero points.

The German playmaker is always thrilled to get on the scoresheet but it doesn’t mean a jot when Celtic are lingering are the bottom of the Europa League table.

In fairness to the 22-year-old, he’s far from the fall guy following three losses on the spin.

Baur equalised in the opening clash with Ferencvaros, only for Celts to crumble in the second period. Benfica was a bruising one but he was back in the goals the other night as the Hoops took the lead against Celta Vigo.

The same old vulnerabilities came back to haunt the Hoops as the La Liga men turned it around to send Martin O’Neill’s side tumbling towards the Europa League dead zone with the continent’s cannon fodder.

It has been a grim campaign but Baur has proved he belongs on the big stage, even if it is proving painful. The youngster looks a player and wants to make an impact at Celts.

Baur said: “Absolutely. I try to do my best all the time. I try to help the team by scoring and hopefully deliver a few assists as well in the next games.

“But firstly, it’s the job of Callum McGregor and myself in the midfield to control the area.

“We did that a few times really well, a few times not. Personally, I feel more confident in the last few weeks.

“But I really don’t care about that goal, I’m sorry. I’m happy to score but it wasn’t important in the end. At the end it felt really, disappointing.”

Baur has also notched a couple of goals in the Premiership and certainly looks the part. He constantly offers for the ball, knits play together and bursts into the box.

It’s his willingness to search out angles for team-mates that can prove a problem though.

If he has peeled into a pocket of space and one of his Parkhead pals loses possession, it leaves McGregor flying solo in front of the back four.

Celts often get away with it in Scotland – but it has left them brutally exposed in Europe.

Manager Martin O’Neill will need to figure out a solution but there were more questions following Thursday night’s collapse.

Baur said: “It was an open first half, it was fine. Maybe they controlled it a bit more but everything was OK.

“Then we had a great 15 minutes in the second half and scored. We got control, we played really well with the ball. We were dominant.

“But they scored and the momentum switched. We were not capable of switching it again to get control back.

“What is fair? We were on top in those 15 minutes and could have scored twice and maybe brought it over the line.

“But the way they controlled and dominated the edge of our box in the last 30 minutes was not acceptable.”

Baur’s ability, attitude and honesty suggest that he has a big future in these parts.

As for Celtic’s Europa future, it looks bleak. Besiktas head to Glasgow next before away ties at Torreense and Omonoia Nicosia, then Marseille at home and Union Saint Gilloise to finish on the road in Belgium.

The Hoops could need nine or 10 points to reach the knockouts and few would bet the house on them achieving it.

Baur won’t give up hope though.

He said: “What else should I think? Yeah, sure. We have five games ahead but it’s not getting easier.

“But, yes, five games with 15 points to play for, so what else?”

Besiktas can wait for now and Baur is hoping Celtic can enjoy home comforts again back on Scottish soil.

The Hoops are still top and only Rangers have defeated them domestically, with this afternoon’s trip to struggling Hibs not exactly a terrifying prospect right now.

Baur does sense Scottish sides going hell for leather to beat the champs though – and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

The German said: “They should try. It’s like that. It’s a good type of pressure. I like that.”

The old cliche about treating domestic matches like European games might not apply here, mind you, given the woeful difference in results in each arena.

Baur said: “It’s not treating them like a European game but if you’re not doing it, it’s not possible to win.

“It’s like that.

“If you’re not treating them like a real good opponent it’s not possible to win that game.

“We go again and we can be really confident in the league, especially if we play like we did last Sunday when we managed to beat Hearts.

“We’ll take that into the game and try to play a good 90 minutes before another tough week next week.

“We move on and hopefully have a better performance.”