Scott McDonald signed five-year contract Celtic

Celtic striker Scott McDonald has signed a new five-year contract with the Scottish champions.

Australia has finished the Premier League top scorer during his first season with Celtic, who joined from Motherwell in a £ 700000 deal last summer.

His 25 league goals helped Gordon Strachan's side clinch the SPL title and reach the last 16 of the Champions League.

Celtic were keen to reward McDonald for his contribution and 24 years, wanted to stay with the club.

Chief Executive Peter Lawwell said: "This is great news for Celtic. It is well known that Scott likes to play for Celtic and it has a great affection for the club. He is also someone who has performed brilliantly for Celtic last season.

"Our priority is to keep our best and most committed players and the board is pleased to support Gordon in his plans for the future by providing Scott on this long-term agreement.

"We will continue to do everything in our power to ensure that Celtic remains on top of Scottish football."

McDonald's goals in its first campaign at Parkhead is vitally important that Celtic past Rangers surged in the last quarter of the season to complete a hat-trick of league title triumphs.

It has exceeded most expectations of its objectives of return, and the new contract will reflect its status as a key man in Strachan.

The Australian admitted last week its second year as a Celtic player will present another type of challenge.

McDonald said: "Probably coming early in the second season, I'll have even more of a point to prove that this was not just a one-off season I had.

"We must go there and do it again and if I can do it, it might make me. Hopefully, this is the case and there are many more good times ahead. "

McDonald has admirers in England, despite not making the grade in Southampton, but his long-term future is at Celtic.

He totaled 31 goals in all competitions last season and hopes to make a similar contribution to the next campaign.

"This is probably be doubly difficult," he said last week, but it's something I'll look to the future and we hope we can go there and win another championship and a little more trophies next season. "

The announcement of McDonald's deal at a time when Celtic are set to lose to the Rangers in the race to sign Burnley striker Kyle Lafferty.

Both Old Firm clubs have been keen on the 20-year Northern Ireland striker who should clinch a move to Ibrox.