After a sticky start to the season the Hoops appear to be back on track after victories in their last two games against Rennes and Motherwell.

However, Neil Lennon's men are still 12 points behind the Light Blues at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, although they do have a game in hand.

At the club's Lennoxtown training ground, where he was helping promote a 'Greatest Celtic goals' DVD, Hooper was prevented from speaking about two separate allegations of pro-IRA chanting at Celtic Park which are being investigated by UEFA and the Scottish Premier League (SPL) respectively.

However, when asked if a clean sweep of wins was needed before Rangers visit Celtic Park at the end of the year, starting with the trip to Inverness on Saturday, the 23-year-old striker was forthright.

"We have got to win every game, no excuses," he said. "It is very important (we win on Saturday). We will go there like we did at Motherwell and get the three points. That's the main thing.

"It's going to be a tough game. It's a long way from here and it is a tight pitch but there are no excuses now. We just have to get in and out with the three points."

Inverness holds unhappy memories for Celtic, who saw their title hopes shot down in May with a shock 3-2 defeat.

A victory in what was their game in hand over Rangers would have taken them top of the table, but an unlikely Caley victory kept the Gers one point clear with three games remaining and they held on to retain their title.

But former Scunthorpe player Hooper insists that devastating defeat is yesterday's news.

"It was a tough game and we lost," Hooper said. "I can't put my finger on why but it's gone now. The last two games means we can put that to the back of the mind.

"We haven't spoken much about it. Our focus is on three points on Saturday and nothing else. Those two games have made us more confident to go there and get them.

"But I will keep saying it - we have to win every game. No excuses."

An attempt to ask Hooper about the alleged pro-IRA chanting at Celtic Park brought an abrupt end to the press conference, with the player moving swiftly out of the media room.

However, the spotlight will be on the Celtic fans who travel to the Highlands on Saturday after it was revealed this morning that the SPL have opened an investigation.

The SPL's operations officer Iain Blair confirmed that former referee and senior policeman Eddie Smith, in his role as match commander at the game with Hibernian on October 29, complained to a match delegate about songs sung during the goalless draw.

"Eddie mentioned to our delegate that there was pro-IRA chanting from one specific section of the stadium," Blair told the Daily Record. "It was included in the report and is now subject to an ongoing investigation."

It has been reported that two arrests were made during the Hibs match.

Blair added: "I am currently gathering information about what happened during the match when the arrests were made.

"Eddie has mentioned that there was pro-IRA chanting but we need to find out more about when it happened and what exactly went on.

"We also have to establish that Celtic, as I am sure they will have, co-operated fully with the police in the aftermath of this event."

Celtic are already facing disciplinary proceedings from UEFA on December 8 over "illicit chanting" during their Europa League tie against Rennes at Parkhead on November 3.

It has been widely reported that Smith made the complaint to the UEFA delegate on the night.

Celtic last night confirmed they will co-operate fully with UEFA's investigation.