RONNY Deila has urged his Celtic players to display the same desire as Kieran Tierney - the 18-year-old left back who made just his second appearance in Europe in the defeat to Molde on Thursday night.

Deila admitted he was “angry and disappointed” at the performance of his team in a 2-1 loss to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side at Parkhead on Thursday night which left them rooted to the bottom of Group A.

The Scottish champions can still qualify for the last 32 of the Europa League if they win their final two fixtures against Ajax in Glasgow on November 26 and Fenerbahce in Istanbul on December 10.

However, the Norwegian, who is now under the most pressure of his eventful reign at Celtic, believes they will need to show the same sort of spirit as Tierney in order to halt their alarming run.

The teenage defender was, despite having previously been involved in just seven games of senior football, his side’s outstanding performer against the Tippeligaen club by some distance.

Deila made his displeasure known to his underperforming charges in a furious dressing down after the game.

“There was a lack of determination,” said Deila. “That is something that Scotland is known for, what KT (Tierney) showed on the pitch yesterday. That’s real Scottish play, real Scottish mentality.

“That’s what we need. We need more coming with the attitude KT had because that was brilliant. If we get that into the team then, with the offensive play we have, we can do it (progress to the Europa League knockout rounds).

“That’s exactly what I told them - how an 18 year old boy had shown the desire we need. That was at the bottom of it. That’s something we need more of. They didn’t say anything back to me then. I think they quite agree.

“People have to develop these things. It is possible. But of course some are born with more of it than others.”

Meanwhile, Deila has reiterated that he retains the backing of majority shareholder Dermot Desmond and chief executive Peter Lawwell and expects to remain in charge of Celtic regardless of whether they progress in the Europa League.

He said: “This club has shown before that they stand by their managers when they have a hard time in Europe. That is what I want and expect to get as well. I am very confident that we are going to turn it around and get improvements into the two last games, which is one thing, but also into next year too.”

Deila admitted that Celtic’s defensive play fell some way below the standard required against Molde – but argued that the loss of centre half Jozo Simunovic early on had affected his side at the back.

“Defensively again we were not good enough when we are on this stage,” he said. “But we lost our two central defenders from last year. We have had a lot of injuries. You have to look behind things and that was a factor.”

Meanwhile, Deila has revealed that Charlie Mulgrew, who is currently sidelined with a thigh injury, could be available for the visit of Ajax in their penultimate Group A match later this month.

He will be without both Nir Bitton, who was ordered off towards the end of the game against Molde on Thursday night, and Stefan Johansen, who was booked in the second half, for the meeting with the Dutch club. Asked if Mulgrew could be involved, Deila said: “It is possible.”

Meanwhile, Deila confirmed the Ladbrokes Premiership match against Ross County in Dingwall tomorrow will be too early for Scott Brown, who has a knee injury, and Kris Commons, who strained his hamstring against Molde on Thursday evening.