Celtic need to be careful with a solution they may believe they have found. The Bhoys have enjoyed a fine start to the season with the exception of the Champions League qualifying second leg, and belief is at a real high after a start to the league season that has seen them maintain a perfect record.
But the uncomfortable truth is that Celtic should be too good for the majority of their Premiership rivals. They have more resources and a much better squad than the majority of their rivals, if not all of them, and dominance is almost expected in the league.
The better tests are going to come in the Europa League, when Celtic will take on some bigger and better teams on their European journey. But what that means is that many of Martin O'Neill's early theories haven't been properly tested yet.
Squad decisions and tactics the veteran boss may think he has worked out may be illusions, and we may not find out until Celtic play a very good side in Europe. One of those theories is that Celtic have good enough cover at left-back.
With a bit of luck, Celtic will have starting left-back Kieran Tierney available for all of their Europa League games, but his chequered injury past makes that doubtful.
Celtic will rely on Liam Scales to deputise at left-back, with the centre-back also able to play on the left. With Tierney having struggled with a small injury of late, Scales has deputised and done well, but Celtic are likely going to need more in Europe.
Scales can offer defensive stability, but he is not able to get forward and provide the same level of service as Tierney, and that could be an issue. It will also be interesting to see if he can handle playing left-back against faster and better wingers in Europe.
With Landon Emenalo not registered for Europe, O'Neill has little choice in the absence of Tierney, and that could well be an issue. Celtic will be hoping that Scales pans out even on the big stage should he need to start on the left, but O'Neill's confidence needs to be reserved until his theory that he has enough cover in the form of a centre-back playing out of position is fully tested.
What has O'Neill said about Scales
Speaking after Scales' performance against St Mirren over the weekend, O'Neill gushed: "I love Scales. I think he's great. I think Scales is great.
"I think that last week he went and played left back. He's a centre-half and yet we're asking him almost to play like a wide left-hand side player at times.
"That he is not, but he has got a massive heart. He's been brilliant. A couple of times I've been here, he's been absolutely fantastic. Really, really fantastic. I said to him the last game we played, I don't know what the club would do without him."
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