Brendan Rodgers has highlighted the contribution of his three Number 10’s to the victory over RB Leipzig.
The attacking midfielder, or support striker is the key component in Rodgers’ side, linking midfield to attack switching a loan striker into a four man strike force.
Tom Rogic is the first choice for that role but he faces competition from two others that can play elsewhere in midfield but also add that cutting edge around the penalty box.
Although they dropped deeper in the second half against Leipzig it was in a measured way that maintained an attacking edge that was perfectly highlighted by Odsonne Edouard’s winning goal.
“I think you could be very proud watching the Scottish players playing at the very highest level on Thursday night,” Rodgers told the Daily Mail. “For me it’s not about jumping and smashing into tackles, it’s about blocking the lines of pass and intercepting.
“Our rules are simple – if you give a good player time he’ll play, but let’s see how good he is when you get right up to him and put him under pressure.
“Guys like Callum, Ryan and Tom Rogic, players you would essentially say are No 10s, showed they can do the dirty work.
“That’s what you have to do collectively. How they pressed the game, they smothered the ball, gave them no time and then had the quality to play.”
All three Number 10’s are expected to be in the Celtic side at Livingston today with a more attacking brief than they had against Leipzig.
A win in today’s lunchtime clash will take Celtic to the top of the table, two points ahead of Hearts with a game in hand over the Edinburgh side.