But the big Celtic striker insists he is not about to lose any sleep over whether he tops the scoring charts or not.

He has five goals in the bag already this term and is hoping to add to that tally when the Hoops resume domestic duties against Hibernian in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League tomorrow.

Responding to comments from Strachan earlier in the week, claiming he felt Vennegoor of Hesselink still had another 20% to give, the Dutchman said: "Of course, you always want to do better and I am no different. I want to score goals and I want to help my team.

"I feel good, I feel fit. I've trained every day and my fitness levels are good. In that way things are going well.

"I never set myself targets, finishing top of the scoring charts is not a key goal. You have strikers who only live for goals and while I love to score I am not necessarily like that.

"I like to bring other people into the game. My priority is to flick balls on and hold it up when I can. But above all else I like to play good football and at Celtic I have this chance."

Vennegoor of Hesselink is currently enjoying a profitable strike partnership with Scott McDonald, the diminutive Australian who arrived from Motherwell in the summer.

"In my career I've always played with a small striker spinning off me," he said. "I need a striker that's quick and who wants to spin around me. It's a positive way to play and that's what I know. It's a good partnership.

"At PSV I played alongside [Mateja] Kezman and he scored a lot of goals because of how we linked up. I hope it's the same with Scott at Celtic this season. Scott is doing well but all of the guys who came in during the summer have made a contribution to the team."

But, with Strachan boasting vast resources in the striking department, Vennegoor of Hesselink knows both players are under pressure to keep impressing, adding: "You have to be careful as a striker.

"You say that just now I play up front with Scott, but in two week's time the picture could be different.

"People can pick up injuries and the manager can change his selection. I enjoy playing with Scott and I think we've had some good games together. I hope that we can continue. We have both scored some goals but the manager has good variety and things can change."

Last week's 5-0 thrashing of Inverness allowed Celtic to replace Rangers at the top of the SPL for the first time this season and Vennegoor of Hesselink insists he is relishing the challenge from their Old Firm rivals this term.

"We have a lot of big games but so too have Rangers," he said. "We came back from Spartak with a big win against St Mirren and I hope we can do the same against Hibs on Sunday.

"These are difficult games because you give a lot in the European matches. But we want to win the league again and these are the matches you need to win.

"Rangers are doing well again so it's a big test for us this season. But these are the challenges I like.

"If Rangers are playing better then we will need to step up - that's good for us."