Long before this season started the Celtic squad had a look of an old building ready to collapse. Then the management team set for the rebuild done a u-turn and left Celtic fans in despair.

It is hard to believe a record-breaking squad could fall so far after years and years of absolute dominance. Out of nowhere, Ange Postecoglou is named as the new Celtic manager and let’s be honest not everyone was jumping off their seats with the appointment. The guy who brought him to the club left in bizarre circumstances after only months in the job. It was just bad news after bad news.

At one point it seemed the manager was going to be left mounting a domestic and European challenge playing mostly academy players. Everyone knew the Celtic squad was going to be threadbare this season but it just got ridiculous with weekly injuries and no cover in a lot of positions.

After a couple of bad results, it was starting to look like it was going to be a long painful season with a rebuild that was going to take years. No Celtic fan with a brain was ready to hold the new manager to account when they knew the hand he had been dealt.

Now all of a sudden, things don’t look as bleak. For the first time this season, on Tuesday, the manager actually had a bench with players that could come on and make a difference to the game.

Now with Christopher Jullien and James Forrest back in training things are starting to look up for the first time in a long time. Mikey Johnstone also looks fired up after his injury woes. Jullien has been out of action since suffering a serious knee injury at the end of 2020 so he will be like a new signing once he gets match fit.

Celtic are gearing up for three games a week more or less from now through until Christmas and will need every available player possible. Competition for places is vital to get the best out of every player and for squad rotation.

The Hoops have some momentum now too, they have won their last three games and kept back to back clean sheets. They have also broken their away day curse after not recording an away win since February.

There is only a four-point gap in the league table now, if Celtic could make it to January in this position fans could allow some hope back into the picture for the second half of the season. This is of course providing Ange gets his recruitment wishes fulfilled by the board.