Over the last six months the Celtic squad has gradually been weakened much more than most supporters realise. Fortunately, Neil Lennon is aware of it, highlighting meetings over Recruitment in his last interviews with club media.
The not so old favourites were all pictured back at Lennoxtown at the end of last week but beyond the first XI there is a lack of depth.
Following the summer transfer window Celtic went into the Europa League with a strong squad. Those players excelled, qualified after four matches to ensure a degree of European success after losing out to Cluj in the Champions League qualifiers.
Lennon still has an abundance of midfield options, Leigh Griffiths is fit again to double the variables in attack but elsewhere the squad has shrunk alarmingly.
Brendan Rodgers once mentioned having a million wingers, over the course of the last six months those options have dropped rapidly.
Not reporting to Lennoxtown tomorrow are- Moi Elyounoussi, Scott Sinclair, Lewis Morgan, Daniel Arzani and Jonny Hayes. James Forrest remains as reliable and excellent as ever, Mikey Johnston is returning from injury while Marion Shved has three cameo roles to show for his first season in Scotland.
Goalkeeping is as big a concern although there are two live options in Craig Gordon and Fraser Forster. One has a contract option sitting in front of him while the other has been training at Lennoxtown despite being contracted to Southampton. Scott Bain has played just one match since last August.
The other position that has got a little thin is in central defence. Jozo Simunovic has moved on leaving Kris Ajer and Chris Jullien as the only time served players in that position. Nir Bitton and Hatem Abd Elhamed can come in as cover while Robbie Deas and Stephen Welsh wait for their chance.
There is still six weeks before the season starts but last summer the defence lost Mikael Lustig, Cristian Gamboa, Filip Benkovic, Dedryck Boyata and Emilio Izaguirre. Callum McGregor ended up playing left-back against Cluj with Celtic losing 4-3 and their Champions League route.
With 10-in-a-row at stake and Champions League money more welcome that ever Lennon will be hoping that the Recruitment Team deliver players quicker than last years end of August rush.