Sead Haksabanovic has lit up his first season at Celtic with little cameos.
But Hampden on Sunday may well offer him his biggest chance to take centre stage. The strength of boss Ange Postecoglou’s set-up is its variety. An ability for non-regular starters or subs to make a huge impact. Competition for places and a drive to deliver when called upon mean the machine rarely falters even when one or two key parts aren’t functioning or in the repair shop.
No one, perhaps Callum McGregor apart, is guaranteed a start. But it’s obvious that some are going to feature more than others and Haksabanovic has, for the majority of the campaign, had to wait his turn. With Jota in explosive mood as soon as the campaign kicked off, Liel Abada causing mayhem with doubles against Rangers and a hat-trick at Dundee United, there was no need for the Montenegrin to sparkle instantly after his August switch from Rubin Kazan.
