CELTIC new boy Kasper Høgh scored a first-half hat-trick as champions Celtic continued their winning start to the season with a 5-1 league win at Kilmarnock.
Last season's top scorer Benjamin Nygren was also on the scoresheet, while Luke McCowan found the net moments after coming on.
Michael Schjonning-Larsen got the consolation for the visitors, who lost 4-3 to St Johnstone in their league opener last weekend.
Manager Martin O'Neill was missing from the dugout after undergoing a small procedure in hospital this week but this performance will have been the perfect tonic to aid his recovery.
"If he turned up on Monday and this hadn't been the result, I might have been in a spot of bother," assistant manager Shaun Maloney joked with Celtic TV.
"I'm really looking forward to having him back. We've missed him and missed him today.
"I'm really glad we got a win for him and that was down to the players. The players can take all of the credit today."
Høgh impact
After accusations from fans that the board had failed to significantly invest in the squad in recent seasons, Celtic splashed £11m this summer to make Høgh their record signing.
The Danish striker's quality was evident from his time at Bodo/Glimt, where he scored against Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League last season.
It wasn't Høgh's night in Celtic's league opener against Dundee on Monday as he missed a string of chances on his debut but he took just over a minute to open the scoring at Rugby Park on Sunday.
Arne Engels whipped in a corner to the far post and Høgh nodded it in to score his first Celtic goal and set the tone for most of the afternoon.
Fellow new boy Camilo Durán went close shortly after Høgh's opener, while Viljami Sinsalo dealt with a series of Kilmarnock corners as the hosts pushed for an equaliser.
Durán again went close at the other end before Max Stryjek impressively tipped a Benjamin Nygren effort on to the bar and recovered quickly to turn away Høgh's follow-up as Celtic pressed for a second.
However, the pressure eventually told when Høgh doubled the lead on 32 minutes at the end of a flowing move after Johnly Yfeko had given away possession cheaply in midfield.
Høgh then sealed his hat-trick two minutes later, nodding into an empty net after Durán's cross left Stryjek and defender Jamie Brandon stranded.
Perfect start to second half
The interval gave Kilmarnock a chance to regroup but they found themselves behind after just two minutes when Stryjek passed straight to Nygren on the edge of the box before the Swede lofted the ball over the stricken keeper.
Moments later, Durán's curling effort came off the crossbar as Celtic threatened to run riot.
Høgh almost grabbed his fourth after 52 minutes when he controlled the ball beautifully before rifling a shot at goal that was blocked by Yfeko.
The onslaught continued with a fierce effort from Hyunjun Yang going narrowly wide on 55 minutes.
Moments later, Kilmarnock pulled one back when Schjonning-Larsen drilled Tom Lowery's ball under Colby Donovan and beyond the stretching Sinisalo.
It offered only a moment of respite for the hosts as Duran again tested Stryjek with a fine effort from Nygren's clever back-heel, while Høgh nodded against the post after 71 minutes.
However, the fifth came as substitute Luke McCowan hooked home on 75 minutes after a goalmouth scramble.
Fellow substitute Sebastian Tounekti could have made it 6-1 a minute later but steered his effort straight at Stryjek.
Meanwhile, James Forrest — now in his 18th season with Celtic — had a trio of chances late on to add to the score but the game finished 5-1 as the Hoops threw down the gauntlet to their title challengers.
Outlook positive
Ominously for the opposition, it looked at times as though Høgh was still finding his feet as a few moves broke down.
No doubt that familiarity with his teammates will continue to grow and hopefully see the Dane become even more lethal in front of goal.
Having impressed despite drawing a blank against Dundee, Maloney believed Høgh's hat-trick today will boost his confidence.
"For him as an individual it will be huge," he told Celtic TV.
"I thought he played well against Dundee, he just missed chances — that's the life of a striker.
"I think his all-round game was the most pleasing and it gave us the platform to win.
"Kilmarnock tried to really high-press us man for man.
"Everything that went up to him he held it and we could play off that, so that part of it probably was the platform for the team.
"We've watched him for months. We know what level he is."
Durán has also impressed on the wing and trying to find a way to play the striker and Høgh up front together is a nice problem for O'Neill to have.
An overhaul was needed after Celtic flirted with disaster last season only to bag a double and with several players linked with moves away and the squad light in certain positions, more arrivals are vital.
However, the early days of the campaign bode well for Celtic.
Next up is a trip to Dundee United next Saturday for a League Cup tie before Celtic host LASK in the first leg of their Champions League playoff on Wednesday, August 19.
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