GORDON STRACHAN last night insisted crack Spaniard Marc Crosas could be a priceless asset bought for a bargain s400,000 from Barcelona.

Yet the Celtic boss admitted he has never seen Crosas in the flesh and has taken him on the strength of video evidence.

The midfielder is expected in Glasgow today and due to watch Celtic begin the defence of their title against St Mirren at home tomorrow afternoon.

Strachan believes the money spent on him could be a steal if Crosas is everything he looks on a small screen.

He said: "Marc has the ability to pass the ball. Everybody laughs when I say that makes him a priceless asset but if you think back to the Euro 2008 finals you'll understand what a great help that is.

"I can't guarantee he'll be a success but I'm looking for bargains and willing to gamble.

"I can't talk about signing Andrei Arshavin from Zenit St Petersburg because that's an impossibility.

"Even if I could push the boat out, most players at that level want to go to Italy or Spain or down south."

Realism is the name of the game for the manager as he bids to maintain his flawless record of winning the title every season he's been in charge of Celtic, starting with the match against St Mirren.

Strachan said: "Everybody wants the beautiful game but I can promise you they want a win first and foremost.

"I don't enjoy pre-season friendlies. I was sent off in five of them as a player and only red-carded once in 832 competitive games.

"I prefer it when we have to entertain and win and my appetite for the new season is the same now as it was when I took over at Celtic Park.

"I feel optimistic with a touch of pessimism thrown in because you never know what can happen and there's always the threat of something going wrong."

Strachan was accused of being reclusive after Celtic won the league at Tannadice on the final night of last season, cutting his pre-match comments to a minimum and then disappearing until the day before Celtic played Porto.

But he denies his silence was anything other than the need for a break.

He said: "There was nothing sinister attached to it. Trust me, I enjoyed myself during the close season. I just wanted to get away from it all for a while.

"Now I'm back, I'm motivated by working with the players who gave me so much.

"I can't ask for any more of them when it comes to displaying character or fitness. If there's one thing I can ask it is that they improve their passing."

Strachan paid no attention to Rangers' European exit and the mood of gloom among their fans.

He said: "Rangers are not on my radar. They're not part of my psyche. I can only focus on my own team."