Martin O'Neill says he still doesn't know his best Celtic starting XI, but while there is genuine competition at a couple of positions, the veteran boss may be overthinking it.
It has been a mixed season for the Bhoys, and very few players can say they have been consistent for the duration of the season so far. Now, there is going to debate over the actual best XI based on talent, but here we have put together the best XI based purely on performances so far this season.
GK - Viljami Sinisalo
Look, there really isn't much between Sinisalo and Sam Johnstone. But Sinisalo gives Celtic more in terms of wanting to receive the ball at his feet, and this Celtic team needs to play more football.
LB - Kieran Tierney
Tierney is undoubtedly Celtic's best left-back, and that is partly because there is no senior alternative, but the Scotland international has also been very consistent.
CB - Cameron Carter-Vickers
Carter-Vickers has clearly been Celtic's most consistent centre-back so far this season. He is a commanding defender and he is good with the ball at his feet.
CB - Liam Scales
Dane Murray and Auston Trusty have done decently, but Scales might just have the edge. Scales has not been anywhere near as consistent as CCV, but he is a threat at set-pieces and he has defended very well over the last six weeks, in particular. He has the edge at the moment, but Trusty could flip that script when he returns.
RB - Colby Donovan
Based on ability, Alistair Johnston likely wins this race, but he has hardly played this season, while Donovan has played with little break and has been very consistent. He gets in as a result of that.
CDM - Callum McGregor
It hasn't been great from McGregor, who no longer has the legs to compete against very good midfields, but he has otherwise been solid and has managed a heavy workload.
CDM - Mika Baur
Baur has been a brilliant signing for Celtic. He would likely thrive more in a system that suits his posiiton and allows him to play as a number 8. In this system, he is like a number 6 but with some licence to play further forward, and he has adapted pretty well to that. Baur has been excellent.
CAM - Benjamin Nygren
Nygren hasn't been overly consistent, but he is still Celtic's best number 10 and by some way. The Bhoys don't have enough competition here.
RW - Haissem Hassan
There has been a lot of fuss over Hassan of late because he was dropped. Even before that, we wrote about the need for the Egyptian to step up his game, given his obvious ability. But even with the average displays by his standards, he has still been Celtic's best right-winger when everyone is playing in their right position, which we will come on to.
LW - Yang Hyun-jun
Callum Osmand has made a case on the left in recent weeks, but we can't forget how good Yang was before his injury, and he will be looking to pick that form back up now that he is back. Yang is currently Celtic's best left-winger, but Jota will want to have something to say about that when he gets back to full fitness.
CF - Camilo Durán
Kasper Hogh hasn't come close to Durán, and it's criminal that the latter is having to play out of position more often than not despite his excellent goalscoring form. The Colombian has 13 goals so far and should be the starting centre-forward until Hogh shows he can actually compete for the spot.
