CELTIC surged nine points clear of Rangers at the top of the cinch Premiership table with just five games remaining thanks to an incredible seven goal rout of second-bottom St Johnstone at Parkhead this afternoon.

First-half goals from Reo Hatate, Giorgos Giakoumakis and Daizen Maeda were followed by strikes from Josip Juranovic and Liel Abada as well as a Matt O’Riley double in the second.

To cap off a joyous afternoon for the home support, Kyogo Furuhashi, the Japanese striker who has been sidelined since December, made his long-awaited comeback from injury.

Rangers take on St Mirren tomorrow afternoon and can reduce the gap at the top of the table to six if they win in Paisley. But it is very difficult to see Ange Postecoglou’s men being caught by the defending champions. They increased their goal difference to 59 with the emphatic triumph.

Postecoglou selected the same starting line-up as had taken to the field against Rangers six days earlier -  but the presence of Furuhashi in the matchday squad for the first time in over three months sent a ripple of excitement around the stadium.

When the summer signing’s name was read out before kick-off there was a roar from the home supporters and when he jogged down the touchline .

Celtic had been hailed by many in the Scottish game as champions elect following a 2-1 triumph over Rangers at Ibrox last Sunday that sent them six points clear with six games remaining.

But those fans who old enough to remember the late collapse the Glasgow side suffered in the 2004/05 season after winning the final Old Firm game by an identical scoreline to move five ahead with four matches to go were more cautious.

Martin O’Neill’s men  promptly lost their next league fixture to Hibernian at home six days later and  were beaten by Motherwell away on the last day and were beaten to the trophy by their city rivals by a single point.

Can Postecoglou’s charges avoid the same agonising fate? Will they be able cope with the pressure better than that great side? On the evidence of this one-sided triumph against opponents who are fighting for their top flight survival there will be no slip-ups during the run-in.

It took just eight minutes for Celtic to edge in front. Furuhashi’s countryman Reo Hatate opened the scoring when he met a Greg Taylor cut back with a first time shot that curled beyond Zander Clark and finished into the bottom right corner of the net.

The midfielder nearly added a second just two minutes later when Tom Rogic chested the ball down to him on the edge of the St Johnstone penalty area. Clarke did well to palm his dipping volley past his post.   

The Scotland squad member blocked a Rogic attempt with his legs after the Australian playmaker had weaved his way through the visitors’ defence and was fortunate that Jota fired wide . But it was just a matter of time before the second goal arrived.

It stemmed, though, from a defensive mistake. Callum Booth underhit his passback to Clark and Giorgos Giakoumakis nipped in and intercepted before slotting home from the tightest of angles to take his tally for the season to 13.

It was, however, to be his last involvement in proceedings. He pulled up injured shortly afterwards and hobbled off. Maeda moved up front and Liel Abada took his place on the wing. The switch had no detrimental impact on Celtic in the final third. Quite the opposite 9in fact.  

Maeda notched a third nine minutes before half-time when he got on the end of a Jota cross and beat Clark with a glancing header. It was an exquisite finish. But quite how Liam Gordon, the 6ft tall centre back, allowed the 5ft 7in forward  to get on the end of the delivery was a mystery.

St Johnstone did nothing to show they can move up the league and avoid play-off final. Callum Davidson set up with a 4-4-2 formation. But his men offered next to nothing in attack and were cut open far too easily at the back. They will not face a side as good in their post-split matches. Still, their manager will be concerned at his team’s insipid showing.

Davidson put on Cammy MacPherson and Tom Sang for Murray Davidson and Shaun Rooney respectively at the start of the second-half. But Sang gifted Celtic their fourth when he barged over Hatate clumsily inside his own area just six minutes after taking to the field. Referee Andrew Dallas had no hesitation pointing to the spot.

Josip Juranovic stepped forward to take the penalty and coolly slotted beyond Clark to maintain is 100 per cent conversion rate from 12 yards out – the Croatian right back has now buried five out of five.  

Postecoglou removed Rogic and Hatate and put on David Turnbull and Matt O’Riley and  the two substitutes combined to score the fifth in the 70th minute. Turnbull picked out O’Riley unmarked with a cross and his team mate had the simplest of tasks to head home.

The Danish midfielder added another just two minutes later when he jinked outside Jamie McCart and rifled into the top left corner.

But the loudest cheer of the afternoon came after Celtic had forged six in front when Furuhashi replaced Jota. Callum McGregor also made way for James McCarthy. Furuhashi immediately created the seventh. He picked out his compatriot Maeda with a long ball and Abada cut inside and got in on the act.