SCOTT SINCLAIR slotted in his 12th goal of the campaign when he knocked the winner past floundering Wes Foderingham at Ibrox on Saturday.
Remarkably, that strike is already better than any Celtic midfielder could muster last season!
Leigh Griffiths took almost sole responsibility for the Hoops in the striking department with 40 goals and the only other Celt to reach double figures was Tom Rogic with 10.
Under Brendan Rodgers, the Aussie ace, Sinclair, Stuart Armstrong, James Forrest and Patrick Roberts have all chipped in vital efforts, something the Irishman believes is crucial in the formation of a successful team.
The Parkhead boss said: “We needed to find multiple scorers in the team because you are never going to succeed if you only have one player who is going to score the goals.
“Tom got 10 goals last season, I said to him he has to look for 20 with his qualities and our style of playing.
“If you are going to be a dangerous team, it has to come from different areas of the field or else the opposition can just close one player out and that’s it.
“It’s defining jobs and, as an attacking player, your job is simple. When you have the ball, it’s to create goals and score goals.
“If you play in the team as a winger and you are scoring two goals, you are no good to me.
“They all know when I come to them for their numbers and they say: I’ve scored 20 and created four, that’s good. Stuart Armstrong, Scott Sinclair, Patrick Roberts. You have to be effective.
“Don’t just look a good player, be a good player and that means being effective. As defenders, you stop goals. It’s defining roles and being clear.
“We’re an attacking team, but we defend well and pressure the ball. It’s good, they are getting there. Slowly.”
Armstrong now looks like a shoo-in for Scotland gaffer Gordon Strachan’s World Cup squad who will face Slovenia at Hampden at the end if March.
The former Dundee United star kicked off the season as a bit-part player, but has become a key player with a string of excellent performances, combining skill and strength and providing the required goal threat.
Rodgers added: “I always look at what you need to play at international level. To play at the highest level, you want to be effective. You want a midfield player who possesses a high level of technique and has got mobility to run and be physical and he’s got all that.
“He’s got big, big qualities that can really set him up in the game now.
“Stuart has shown he’s improving all the time, so if he keeps going – you can’t ever become complacent which he wouldn’t – and keeps knocking on the door, I’m sure Gordon will look at him and think he’s doing a great job.
“Like I said, he has the tools you need to play at that level.”
