BEST AVOIDED says RONNIE CULLY:

THE fact Ronny Deila's side won 5-0 with Kris Commons sitting - if his 'butt injury' allowed him to - back in Glasgow should not be allowed to disguise the fact Celtic are generally better with him in their line-up.

However, there have been games - some very important - when his contribution has not matched his reputation.

Commons is now 31, and, though he had the season of his life last time around, has yet to hit the same heights under the new manager.

All of this will will be thrown into the mix during the contract negotiations, which have been dragging on for several months.

Commons will view this as his last big contract, while he will also be aware Neil Lennon and a few other managers would be willing to offer him a fresh start.

Celtic must decide his value to them. If the terms being requested are too rich, there's only going to be one outcome.

YES says STEWART FISHER:

KRIS COMMONS would be an asset to any squad.

He deservedly swept Scotland's player of the year awards on the strength of a mighty haul of 31 goals last season, and Celtic would have to be resourceful to account for such a tally from another source.

That is why Ronny Deila remains so bullish about keeping him at the club beyond next summer. But should he decide to jump ship to join his old gaffer Neil Lennon at Bolton in January there were signs on Saturday that it need not be construed as the end of the world.

Indeed, the way Stefan Johansen played in Dingwall suggested they may already have a ready-made replacement at the club.

It should be remembered that for most of the campaign he has been filling in for either Scott Brown or Charlie Mulgrew in one of the deeper roles, or even shunted wide left.

Freed from those shackles on Saturday, he was at the heart of everything Celtic did and had a hand in three goals and almost grabbing two himself.

Now that the club's two most reliable holding players are available, expect Johansen to remain a central figure whether Commons stays or not.