Striker McDonald has struggled to recapture the form which saw him finish last season as top scorer for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League champions.

The 25-year-old netted 31 times last term but has has only three goals in eight games in the current campaign, with some questioning his match fitness.

He has also been overshadowed by team-mate Georgios Samaras, who has 10 in just 11 outings, but Robson insists that should not automatically lead to criticism of McDonald.

"How can people give him stick when he scored 31 goals last time and this season has barely started?" Robson told the club's official website, www.celticfc.net.

"He's a strong wee guy and he'll bang loads of goals in again.

"Big Samaras also scored again and he can be anything he wants to be when he gets going. It bears positively for the club because our strikers are firing on all cylinders."

Both players netted in Saturday's 4-0 win over Hamilton, a result which ultimately put Celtic top of the SPL going into the international break after Rangers' shock defeat at St Mirren yesterday.

The Hoops have now scored 14 goals in their last four league games and Scotland star Robson believes the champions are now firing on all cylinders, despite a disappointing start to their Champions League campaign.

"We have scored a lot of goals recently and done well," Robson said.

"I don't think people realised how good a team Villarreal were, but we played really well over there in midweek in the first half.

"Even against Aalborg in the Champions League, we put them under huge pressure but never managed to get a goal.

"All in all, it has been pretty good stuff recently and we need to continue that. We have good momentum behind us and we'll come back from the international break determined to keep it going."

Robson will play for Scotland against Norway on Saturday and, injury permitting, will be back at Lennoxtown long before the SPL clash against Inverness a week later.

Fellow midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura has also promised the club he will return from playing for Japan in time for the October 18 SPL clash.

Nakamura's country play the United Arab Emirates in a friendly before facing Uzbekistan in a World Cup qualifier next Wednesday, sparking fears he would not be back in Glasgow before the Friday.

But the player is planning to return on the Thursday night and hopes to take part in training the following day.

"I will make it," he told the Evening Times. "The time difference will hopefully work in my favour and I am aiming to be back for training at Lennoxtown the day before the game.

"I expect to be available for Inverness. There is no reason why I should miss it. There is no reason for anyone to be concerned that I won't be back for it."

Recent reports have linked Nakamura with a January return to his homeland, with one of the reasons being the toll travelling back and forth is taking on the 30-year-old.

"I just have to get on with it," he said. "It is an honour to play for your country and an honour to play with Celtic.

"There are always a lot of games in a season but I am used to it. I enjoy playing football."

Meanwhile, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink has pulled out of the squad for Holland's World Cup qualifiers against Iceland and Norway.

The Hoops striker picked up a groin injury against Hamilton on Saturday.