At the start of the campaign you would have imagined there would be no question marks about Martin O’Neill’s position after he rescued a league and couple double out of a traumatic season in his second spell as Celtic’s interim manager.
However, the veteran Northern Irishman missed last month’s win over Kilmarnock after “a small medical procedure” in hospital then endured a 5-1 thrashing by LASK that meant Celtic again missed out on the riches of the Champions League.
Saturday’s subsequent 2-1 home win over Falkirk was hardly convincing, adding to the doubts some supporters once again have voiced about their summer transfer dealings, and assistant Shaun Maloney was sent out to meet the media instead on Tuesday.
Neverthless, they have won all five of their games apart from that collapse in Austria and go into Wednesday’s meeting with Aberdeen already two points clear at the top of the table.
Similarly, counterpart Stephen Robinson has still to convince some Dons fans despite steering them clear of relegation trouble last season then starting the season with six wins and just two losses.
To make matters worse, after Sunday’s home defeat by Rangers, few will be expecting much from a trip to Celtic Park, where they have not won in 14 visits.
Indeed, Celtic won all three meetings last season after Aberdeen, who have not won in 15 away league games, edged the 2025 Scottish Cup final on penalties.