SPOTLIGHT NOW ON SCEPOVIC

The Serb striker has struggled to make an impact with the SPFL champions after his big-money move from Sporting Gijon on the last day of the August transfer window.

He has scored a paltry four goals from 27 appearances, 16 as a sub, and has drifted out of the first team picture as a consequence. Deila has defended the frontman, but he did emphasise the urgent need for improvement in his all-round play as well as his finishing.

The Hoops gaffer said: “With every player, we need to see an advancement all the time. It’s not only Stefan – it’s about EVERY player. He is still a project. We have to work on that. It’s been different for him. The style of playing maybe, the tempo in the games is not what he was used to.

“But he has a lot of skills that we can use and need and he’s been working hard. He really tries to do everything he can, so it’s tough. The competition has been harder. Leigh Griffiths has done well, before Christmas it was John Guidetti scoring a lot of goals.”

Deila has already underlined the fact he is not slow to dump misfiring marksmen. Tony Watt was shown the door early on and moved onto Standard Liege in a £1.2million transfer. Teemu Pukki and Amido Balde didn’t him impress him, either, and they headed out  to Denmark and Belgium on season-long loans.

Scepovic will now be in the spotlight to provide he was worth the money, especially as Deila will be in the market for a striker with John Guidetti almost certainly leaving when his temporary contract expires while there are still question marks over Anthony Stokes, who has been linked with ex-gaffer Neil Lennon at Bolton.