Celtic star Mika Baur is making a bid to fill the hole Martin O'Neill needs filled more than any other. The Hoops are lacking a midfielder who can do the dirty work and carry the ball from deep to the top end of the pitch.
Arne Engels could do that, albeit he bypassed some of the dirty work by having such a fine ability on the ball. Baur has a strong ability on the ball, always wanting to get on the ball, and he can carry it, but arguably without the presence Engels has.
It doesn't help that Callum McGregor is not in great form, and he is usually the player Celtic rely on to do the dirty work. But the balance feels off currently, and Baur has been a part of that.
Between McGregor and Baur, Celtic need to find the right balance in a two-pivot system that offers real protection for the back-line, which currently is not there, while also supporting progression up the pitch.
Baur is not offering quite enough physicality currently, but he believes he is getting better and better at offering it.
"My strengths are definitely on the ball, but over the last year-and-a-half I've also learned to enjoy doing the dirty work, fighting and leaving my heart on the pitch," he said while on international duty. Sprinting up and down, getting stuck into challenges.
"I'm now at a very high level in that regard, meaning I can have an impact both with and without the ball."
Baur is expected to make his Germany debut on Thursday night, and he is still in disbelief that Jurgen Klopp called him to let him know he would be earning his first senior cap.
"It still doesn't feel real. Until I got the call, it seemed very far away to me," added Celtic's summer signing. "I knew that moving to Glasgow was the next step in my development, but I never expected it to lead to something like this as well.
"I'm trying to soak it all up here. I want to make my mark, take everything in and make the most of the experience. I want to enjoy myself as well, but obviously we all want to play and get some minutes."
Germany are in Nations League action against Serbia and Greece, having drawn against the Netherlands and lost against Greece in their first two games of this window.
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