Anthony Stokes says his late winner for Celtic against Dundee United was the perfect way to end a week that also saw his club reach the group stage of the Champions League.

The Irish international striker scored three minutes from time as the Scottish title-holders were made to work hard for a 1-0 win at Tannadice.

Celtic, who had shown all the signs of suffering from a European hangover following their midweek exertions against Shakhter Karagandy, looked to be heading for their second consecutive draw in the Scottish Premiership.

But Stokes sent an 87th minute free-kick in off the post to keep his side second in the table, three points behind league leaders Inverness Caledonian Thistle with a game in hand.

"It has been a brilliant way to end the week. There were a few tired legs out there from the other night but we kept going," Stokes said after scoring his 50th goal for Celtic.

"The gaffer said at half-time it was going to take a free-kick or a mistake to break the deadlock but it was a great performance.

"We had to dig in and Dundee United put us under an awful lot of pressure, and credit to them, but we are delighted to be going away with the three points."

Stokes has been in fine form this season, grabbing a double in the opening day win over Ross County as well as being the architect of the vital third goal in Wednesday's crucial 3-0 win over Kazakhstan's Shakhter Karagandy.

Nevertheless, the Irish international knows his place in the Celtic starting line-up is not guaranteed after manager Neil Lennon swooped to sign Finnish striker Temmu Pukki from Schalke on transfer deadline day in Scotland.

Israeli midfielder Nir Biton also joined the club on Friday while Amido Balde, Derk Boerrigter, Steven Mouyokolo and Virgil van Dijk all moved to Celtic Park earlier this summer.

However, Stokes says it's vital that Celtic have a large squad to cope with the arduous demands of a busy fixture list as they fight on four fronts this season.

"I just want to try and keep myself in the team but competition is good for us all," Stokes admitted.

"At a club like this you can't afford to wrest on your laurels. It's a game by game basis and it goes on your performances on the weekend.

"Obviously we have the Champions League as well to contend with now along with the cup games and the league so it will be a big load on all the players but we are ready for it."

At Tannadice, United manager Jackie McNamara was unhappy at the free-kick his side conceded from.

Stokes was fouled on the edge of the box but the Irishman appeared to roll the ball back a couple of yards before curling it past Radoslaw Cierzniak for the winner.

"I think for me the frustrating thing was the free-kick they scored from," McNamara, a former Celtic player, said.

"Whether or not it was a free-kick is debatable but the lad has moved it a few yards back before he has taken it.

"I thought Stokes had his leg planted and he has used it to his advantage but once the referee has set up the wall he has moved the ball back a few yards and that's what I was irate about.

"He's not spotted it but at the other end we had a free-kick with young Ryan Gould and the wall was very close to him."

However, Stokes said he couldn't understand what all the fuss was about.

"I don't know if it helped me. I just wanted to try and get it up and down," the striker said.

"I moved it only five or six inches so I don't think it was a big deal."