The on-loan Wolves striker scored twice for his new team either side of a John Hartson goal to extend the Parkhead club’s lead to six points at the top.

With Barcelona and Henrik Larsson due in town for the glamour Champions League Group F opener on Tuesday, Camara’s double came at the perfect time for the champions.

The Glasgow giants were well on top early on but failed to capitalise on their superior possession.

A dangerous corner from Alan Thompson flew across the face of the goal much to the relief of the visitors.

Celtic would have gone ahead in the 13th minute had Bobby Mann not been stood under his crossbar to head John Hartson’s glancing header off the line from Stilian Petrov’s corner.

The Dundee defence were all over the place again in the 20th minute after Hartson had dispossessed Jonay Hernandez and attempted to pick out a team-mate in the centre.

Soutar clawed the ball away from a Celtic head and Juninho followed up and seemed certain to score a first goal for his new club but blazed over.

But on-loan signing Camara grabbed his first in the 22nd minute when Valgaeren put him through on goal.

And, having burst clear of the defence, Camara coolly side-footed the ball past Soutar to score his first competitive goal for the Hoops.

The home side’s aim was to kill the game off by half-time and that mission looked accomplished in the 37th minute when Hartson doubled their advantage.

Thompson found the Welshman in the box far too easily and he had time to control the ball and force it past Soutar from nine yards.

Camara came within inches of doubling his tally in the last minute of the half but his left-foot strike came back off the post.

Soutar kept Dundee in the game with a tremendous double save from Hartson and then Camara in the 53rd minute.

The Senegal front man was again left frustrated by the Dens Park keeper three minutes later when he shrugged off his marker and pulled the trigger, but had his effort blocked.

With Celtic coasting O’Neill opted to take off Stanislav Varga and replace him with Ulrik Laursen in the 61st minute.

Dundee manager Jim Duffy responded by bringing on former Celtic youngster Mark Fotheringham for Neil Barrett in the 66th minute.

Thompson was looking to add to his winner against Rangers a fortnight ago, but Soutar spread himself to keep his left-foot shot out moments later.

The visitors woke Celtic up in the 74th minute when Iain Anderson cut in from the right flank and unleashed a left-foot strike which came back off the crossbar.

With Tuesday’s Champions League match in mind, O’Neill decided to take off Juninho and Hartson and bring Momo Sylla and Stephen Pearson on.

Camara again went close in the 80th minute when he exchanged passes with Petrov and then let loose with a fierce drive which flew high over the top.

Camara was unlucky when he charged down Soutar’s clearance only for the ball to ricochet behind.

The striker, however, did get his just rewards with five minutes remaining and he cut in from the left and fired low past the Dundee goalkeeper from 22 yards.