Chris Sutton went some way to repaying the £6million transfer fee dished out by Celtic as he scored the winning goal against Dundee United to give both himself and new manager Martin O'Neill a dream start at their new club.

England striker Sutton was O'Neill's first recruit after signing him earlier this month from Chelsea.

He was doubtful for his new club's Scottish Premier League opener with an ankle injury and only returned to training on Friday.

But O'Neill took a gamble and decided to hand him his debut along with £3.8million Belgian defender Joos Valgaeren - and the pair did not disappoint the former Leicester boss.

But it was Swedish striker Henrik Larsson who shone first and announced his return to the big time with a well-taken opener, although United hit back through David McCracken to leave O'Neill fearing the worst.

But in the 66th minute up stepped Sutton, with immense pressure on his shoulders to score, and he has already matched last season's league account for Chelsea after netting against Manchester United last October.

The game started as expected at a frantic pace and Jonathan Gould was tested as early as the fourth minute when United new boy Hasney Aljofree unleashed a powerful 25-yard free-kick that the Celtic goalkeeper comfortably held.

But Larsson, who missed the second half of last season after breaking his leg, showed what Celtic had missed two minutes later when Jackie McNamara played the ball in and the Swede wriggled past the challenge of Aljofree.

On this occasion he shot straight at Alan Combe but Larsson was inches from giving his side the lead in the ninth minute when he curled a 22-yard free-kick over the United wall but saw it come back off the upright with Combe getting a hand to it.

Moments later Valgaeren could have also made a dream start to his new career when he rose unmarked in the box to meet Eyal Berkovic's corner with a powerful header, but again Combe saved well.

Celtic midfielder Paul Lambert then tried his luck in the 13th minute after being teed up by Berkovic, but his long-range effort sailed into the hands of Combe.

The visitors' defence, which has come under scrutiny during the pre-season, looked in little trouble as the ball was mostly in United's half.

It was the home side's defence that were under pressure and in the 18th minute Craig Easton nervously sliced his clearance after a dangerous ball into the box from Larsson, with Sutton lurking ominously behind.

A minute later and Berkovic should have done better after being found by Lambert, but the Israeli star dragged his effort well wide of the post.

Sutton was being heavily marked but Celtic continued to press and in the 26th minute Berkovic tried his luck from just wide of the box with a free-kick that Combe again saved.

His opposite number Gould was having very little to do in the Celtic goal, although he was almost caught out two minutes later.

He misjudged an inswinging free-kick into the box from Jim Paterson and could only parry and luckily for him Valgaeren was on hand to clear the danger and save Gould from embarrassment.

Sutton and Larsson showed signs they could form a terrific understanding and the duo were involved in the move that led to Celtic's first goal of the season.

The former Blackburn striker ran at the United defence and after a tackle from Jason de Vos the ball broke to the Swede on the edge of the box and he curled a left-foot effort past Combe into the far bottom corner of the net.

Stilian Petrov looked like doubling Celtic's advantage in the 44th minute when Berkovic played him through, but Combe was quickly off his line to save at the Bulgarian's feet.

United began the second period with more urgency, starting to cause the Celtic defence some problems for the first time in the game - and within just four minutes they were back on level terms.

McNamara brought down Paterson on the left and Heaney's centre was headed home by the unmarked McCracken from close range for his first goal for the club, with Gould running aimlessly into a crowd of players.

That fired up the visitors and Sutton had the ball in the net in the 55th minute with a volley from Berkovic's cross, but the ball was harshly adjudged to have already gone over the line for a goalkick.

Minutes later Larsson went agonisingly close when he curled a right-footed shot from 25 yards just around the post with Combe well beaten.

Valgaeren had already been warned by the referee before picking up his first booking in Scottish football when he clattered Paterson with his side in no danger.

Celtic were lucky not to go behind in the 63rd minute when Paterson crossed for Steven Thompson, with Boyd caught napping, but the young striker headed straight at Gould from just five yards.

But Sutton went some way to repaying his transfer fee in the 66th minute with a typical predators goal to put his side ahead again.

Combe brilliantly saved a fierce drive from McNamara which found its way to Stephane Mahe, who drove across the face of goal and Sutton was on hand at the back post to fire home from close range.

United substitute Tassos Venetis could have got his side on level terms again within eight minutes when David Hannah picked him out unmarked in the box, but he blazed erratically wide of the mark.

A minute later United keeper Combe kept his side in the game with a brilliant save to his left to deny Larsson after the Swedish ace cut into the area with relative ease.

The reaction from Celtic fans at the final whistle suggests they have big hopes for the future with O'Neill and Sutton already showing the sign of things to come.