CHRIS SUTTON
ANGE POSTECOGLOU is in a minority of one if he really believes he’s not involved in a two-horse title race.
Privately he’ll know it’s a game of pass the parcel in Glasgow where the championship is concerned.
He’s also about to discover all about the staying power required in the Premiership head-to-head with Rangers as the season gets into a gallop.
Eight games have to be played before the Old Firm showdown then the call for much-needed reinforcements is screaming loud. One look at the subs bench during their win over Hearts on Thursday night tells its own story – that transfer window can’t come soon enough.
December will be about hanging in there, maintaining what they’re doing. They’ve got to find a way of getting through to January and staying in touch.
A four-point deficit is nothing at this stage but a bigger gap can’t be allowed to develop.
This is a squad creaking at the seams. But you have to take it back to the summer and look at what Postecoglou inherited to where they are now. It was a complete mess – 12 players had to be brought in. Can you imagine if Ange’s eye had not been so good with regard to transfers?
What scenario would be playing out had the likes of Kyogo and Jota not arrived? It doesn’t bear thinking about.
Those two in particular have been sensational. In the main I’ve been impressed by Postecoglou’s signings. Let’s be honest, it was one hell of an overhaul in the summer and you have to say he has delivered the goods. He needs to go again.
Celtic are now a side showing good traits in terms of what’s required to get over the line but they are so heavily stretched and it’s going to get worse.
The sight of Jota pulling up against Hearts with what appeared to be a hamstring injury is a major worry.
Anthony Ralston hobbled off, as did Stephen Welsh, these could prove significant blows.
Jota is going to be a huge loss. Hopefully he’s not out for long as he has been superb in the last few months and is a key attacking weapon.
It’s time for those boys who are on the fringe need to come to the fore. Mikey Johnston, Liel Abada and James McCarthy, it’s time for all of them to step up.
The win over Hearts kicked off a nine-game fixture list for December and it’s going to be a month that stretches Celtic to the limit.
I had to check Johnston’s age and it’s hard to believe he’s still only 22. I can remember him playing a Champions League qualifier in Sarajevo a few years ago, he was excellent and scored. That was the start of a really good campaign for him then he dropped out of things.
He’s someone who needs to show more. For years now he has been in and around the first team but hasn’t managed to get a decent run in the side.
Injuries haven’t helped his cause but his time is now and he needs to show Postecoglou what he can do and on a consistent basis. It looks as though he’ll get his opportunity now as a straight replacement for Jota and he’s got to grab it.
There’s also been a significant shift for Rangers. They’ve gone up a level and have a bit more about them since Gio van Bronckhorst arrived. That managerial change looks to have worked and what Celtic need to do is hang on until reinforcements come in during the January window.
McCarthy’s an interesting one. He arrived on a four-year contract, has a pedigree and was a highprofile signing. But he was on the bench against Hearts after starting against Aberdeen on Saturday and should be making himself a permanent fixture.
He’s another who’s had injury and illness issues but hasn’t performed. There needs to be much more from him.
Another big player delivered against Hearts. Kyogo’s goal was huge but onside or offside? It’s up for debate.
There’s lots to be positive about, scrapping away and grinding out a 1-0 win over Hearts is what’s required when it’s not all free-flowing and emphatic as they’d want to be.
These are the results that title challenges are made of, we saw something similar last Saturday in the 2-1 win over Aberdeen.
It wasn’t a performance on Thursday where they created a load of chances but Hearts are a good team.
People forget where the Jambos have come from, there was a large element of their support who wanted Robbie Neilson removed as manager at the end of last season. They had won the Championship yet they wanted him out. But he’s done a remarkable job and rebuilt the team over a short period of time. It was a good test for Celtic but again they met the challenge head on. There are good signs. Take the Bayer Leverkusen result at the end of September out of the equation and Celtic’s run over recent months has been superb. They are finding a way to win and the consistency has been good. They need to keep it up. Games are coming thick and fast and next week’s game against Real Betis is an opportunity to give fringe players a run-out and not risk the big guns. They need to take the opportunity.
What would scenario have out had played Jota Kyogo not and doesn’t arrived? It bear thinking about