FANTASTIC on plastic - and just as well.

Any fears Celtic may have had about switching to an artificial surface as they pursue Aberdeen in the title race were allayed as they danced to victory at Rugby Park.

The 2-0 win - courtesy of goals from Emilio Izaguirre and Stefan Scepovic - will allow the Hoops to jet off to Gran Canaria for their mid-season training camp feeling much better about themselves.

It will also let them sleep more easily in Maspalomas, not fretting about the fact the first game on their return is also on an artificial surface, against Hamilton Accies at New Douglas Park.

By then, the Dons may have pulled further ahead again, and Hamilton, Dundee United and Inverness Caley could also be back snapping at their heels.

But after the defeat to Dundee United and the goalless draw against Ross County, normal service appears to have been resumed on the points-gathering front.

Deila acknowledges they are in a fight, and will need all of their firepower to come out on top.

He finally bit the bullet and blasted the misfiring John Guidetti from his starting XI for this must-win game. The hitman has been off target too often and, after five blanks, he was out.

Conspicuous by their absence, even from the subs' bench, were James Forrest, Mikael Lustig, Jason Denayer, Charlie Mulgrew and Beram Kayal, their accumulation of ailments all deemed too fragile to be risked on the artificial surface.

That left the way clear for some of the rising stars to show that they can step up and fill the void.

Forgotten man, Liam Henderson, was one of them. He used last January's mid-season break in Turkey to burst through, leaving his mark on Wesley Sneijder as the Hoops enthusiastically contested the Antalay Cup.

The teenager also made an impression on then manager, Neil Lennon, who kept the kid involved in the first team for the remainder of the title-winning campaign.

It has been a different story since Deila took over, and Henderson will be one of the young players desperate to use the upcoming trip to Gran Canaria to build on last night's performance and stake his claim for a regular return to the action.

The midfielder, and his Development Squad team-mates who fly out with the squad today, will not be alone in this objective.

A handful of more senior players also have ground to make up if they are to be involved in the business end of the season.

Despite his goal last night - he helped the ball over the line from close range after Efe Ambrose had headed a Stefan Johansen corner goalward 18 minutes from time - Scepovic leads the way, the £2.3million summer signing yet to show any consistent threat.

The Serbian got another chance last night as the replacement for Guidetti, a decision which would not have sat well with Leigh Griffiths.

After starting alongside Guidetti in the goalless draw against Ross County, Griffiths found himself paired with the Swede again - only this time on the bench. With Anthony Stokes still recovering from the calf injury picked up against the Staggies, it meant Scepovic was the lone striker.

The sight of the Serb on from the start would not have met with universal rejoicing among the travelling Hoops support. But Kris Commons' reinstatement to the team for the first time since the defeat in Zagreb a month ago did provide the late Christmas wish many had hoped for.

The changes were big calls for a manager under more scrutiny than at any time since he arrived as a relative unknown seven very eventful months ago.

Perhaps Deila was working on the theory of horses for courses, Commons having hit three of his 32 goals last term when Celtic last visited Rugby Park.

By the time this game was 25 minutes old, he had come close to picking up where he left off, but watched in disbelief as two efforts crashed off the top of the Killie bar and into the empty stand behind Craig Samson.

It was an eventful opening period for Commons, who was crocked on his left ankle after just 30 seconds by Lee Ashcroft and made his way into the referee's book for a payback foul on Jamie Hamill soon after.

He went on to have another three decent strikes at goal after the break as he pulled the strings for the Hoops.

Deila needed a response from his players after their dip in form, and he must have been happy with the way that, led by Commons, they took the game to Killie.

However, after watching Commons come so close and Johansen also test the Killie keeper on a couple of occasions, it must have come as a huge surprise when Izaguirre popped up with the the breakthrough goal nine minutes before the break.

The full-back had looked a little tentative on the slick surface, but was as sure-footed as a mountain goat when he played a one-two with Johansen on the left side of the Killie box, then bent his volley across Samson and in at the far post.

Strangely, Killie did not look as at home on the surface as their visitors did. Celtic were in their faces at the earliest opportunity, with Izaguirre joining Commons in the book for getting a little too close to Rory McKenzie on one occasion.

Killie did manage to carve out a decent chance which forced Craig Gordon to get down well to save a header from Josh Magennis. Hamill came close with a drive following a corner, and Gordon had to be at his athletic best to turn away a shot from Robbie Muirhead.

But, just getting the ball, and even more so, keeping it, proved a challenge to Allan Johnston's side for a large part of the game.

So Celtic can head for warmer climes packing a healthy glow of satisfaction.