A year ago Scott Bain was settling into life as back-up keeper at Hibs after escaping from Neil McCann’s regime at Dundee.
After seven first team appearances for Celtic, including a cup semi, a cup final and Glasgow derby, there is a strong argument that the 27-year-old should be installed as Brendan Rodgers’ first choice keeper.
Yesterday against Airdrie he made his first appearance since the Betfred Cup Final win over Aberdeen at Hampden on December 2. It was a fairly routine performance except for one incredible incident in which he made three outstanding saves to keep Celtic in front going into the half time interval.
???????????? What a chance for @AirdrieoniansFC
How did this stay out?
HUGE saves here from @CelticFC‘s Scott Bain ????????????#ScottishCup @ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/BmDCbAwzF3
— Premier Sports ???? (@PremierSportsTV) January 19, 2019
FIVE saves in 19 seconds pic.twitter.com/96fZUoM3f8
— Tam Sellics son (@gibbogibby1) January 20, 2019
Getting a first class back-up keeper is a difficult task, if they are so good they should be playing first team football somewhere.
For over a decade Celtic have been unearthing goalkeepers at very little cost- Artur Boruc, Fraser Forster, Craig Gordon and Bain cost less than £2.5m with Forster sold for £11m after working his way into the England squad while playing in Scotland.
Bain’s performance, crucially including his passing out from the back has given Rodgers food for thought, Wednesday’s team news for the visit of St Mirren is bound to be interesting.
