FOR the second time this season, Celtic have clambered to the peak of the Scottish Premier League, courtesy of their 4-0 win over a faltering and falling Motherwell.

 

The foothills remain congested, however. Any slip by Ronny Deila's men will afford the opportunity to challengers, like aspiring Aberdeen, to climb above them once again.

So, while February 1 is a date which has got every Celtic supporter salivating as it will herald the first-ever meeting between the Hoops and Rangers in their new form, March 1 is shaping up to be an equally-intriguing red-letter day.

That's when the SPFL's version of high noon will be staged as Celtic and Aberdeen meet for a lunch-time shootout.

The quest for Scott Brown and Co. is to ensure they go into that game on a winning run.

That's a tall order, given the four weeks of February will see them compete not only in the League Cup and the Premier League, but also in the Scottish Cup and, of course, the Europa League.

Deila's intention is to go into this run of games with a squad stronger than he brought with him into this transfer window.

If the dream of a rare Treble and continued participation in Europe are to be realised, February will not only have to be survived, but embraced.

It will test his squad to the nth degree. And, on evidence to date, it certainly needs bolstering.

Sure, against Motherwell, they managed to follow up recent wins against Kilmarnock and Hamilton without really getting out of second gear, or really getting their fans overly-excited.

A sombre note had been struck before a ball was kicked as the stadium played host to a minute's applause in honour of Aussie-based Celtic fan, Martin Kane, who sadly passed away after bravely fighting a cruel illness, Devic's Syndrome, for six years.

His struggle, like his death, touched the heart and soul of the club, and his memory will live on through the charitable work of the Kano Foundation.

When the game got going, Celtic were in no such mood to help people less fortunate than themselves, and Motherwell certainly fell into that category.

The ease with which they helped themselves to goals from Virgil Van Dijk after 26 minutes, Leigh Griffiths three minutes before the break - both Bhoys gorging on good crosses from fit-again Anthony Stokes - before Mikael Lustig popped up to grab a marvellous and rare double late in the game was another example of what ails the not-very-'Well men.

It could have been much worse for the visitors as Lustig hit the bar, Stefan Johansen headed off a post and Emilio Izaguirre also struck the woodwork.

New manager Ian Baraclough has been overseeing a steady slide down the table, and they are now in danger of joining Ross County and St Mirren in a relegation dogfight.

For a club accustomed to finishing best of the rest in the title race, this is painful to watch.

The annual miracle performed by Stuart McCall as he watched his best players leave for little or no money can only now be truly appreciated.

Ironically, Hoops fans currently find themselves looking at life through a similar prism, with Kris Commons' future very much under the microscope.

Despite rabid rumours to the contrary, the midfielder had not played his final game for the club at Hamilton on Saturday, as Deila elected to start him for the third match in a row.

However, the dilemma facing Celtic remains the same. It is not unprecedented, but it simple.

They could sell Commons and recoup the bulk of the £300,00 he cost when arriving from Derby four years ago this week.

Add in the £250,000 in wages and bonuses the 31 year-old could conceivably collect before he becomes a free agent in the summer, and that's around half-a-million by which the club could be better off if Commons goes before the window closes on February 2.

However, for every action there is a reaction - and there could be a monumentally-negative one if the Hoops decide to cut Commons loose at this point.

There is a section of the support - thought not the ones chanting his name last night, admittedly - who believe they have had and seen the best of Commons.

They would not be averse to waving him a fond farewell any time a suitable offer comes in for last season's Player of the Year.

If the money saved could be immediately turned towards a down payment on bringing in a younger midfielder, say Stuart Armstrong from Dundee United, everyone would be considered a winner.

However, if Celtic - with or without any new recruits - fail to deliver the league title, the anger pouring from the stands would be damaging, poisonous, and long-lasting.

For some time now, the reducing investment in the side has been the cause for increasing angst among many who follow the club who do not buy into the argument the men controlling the finances are duty bound to behave cautiously when the game's finances remain so precarious.

To see a the club fail to retain the services of a key member of the team which brought the title - and numerous big European occasions - to Celtic Park for the last three seasons, when both the manager and the player himself remain insistent they want him to stay, would be perceived as another step downhill.

Commons' future will almost certainly be known long before the destiny of this season's league flag.

But, with or without him, many more results like last night's will have to be delivered if the natives are not to become restless.

The sight of James Forrest and Lustig coming off the bench - preferred to John Guidetti - to join Stokes on the road back to recovery did provide a sight for sore eyes, though it was balanced by seeing Johansen forced off after clashing heads with Mark O'Brien, who also required to be subbed.

One thing everyone can agree upon is that the view from the top is better than looking up at Aberdeen.