CELTIC pulled out all of the stops - and a cheque for over £2.2million - to get Stefan Scepovic on board in time to register him in time to play in the Europa League.

But when the Hoops were preparing to face Inter Milan in the San Siro on Thursday, the Serbian striker was at Lennoxtown, leading the line for the Development Squad in their game against Inverness.

Scepovic scored twice in the 5-0 rout of the Caley kids.

But for a 25 year-old who has played for his country, just being there instead of Milan was a mighty slap in the face.

His last appearance for the first team was as a sub in the win over Ross County on January 24.

His last start came against Kilmarnock on January 5, a match in which he scored to re-ignite hope that, after the mini-break Celtic were about to embark upon, he could finally get his Hoops career into gear.

The evidence shows it has been quite the reverse.

Now, with four goals in 20 appearances - most from the bench - to show for his first six months at Parkhead, serious questions are being asked about the man of many clubs.

For Scepovic, the most important of these come from manager Ronny Deila.

Before the acquisition of Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong in the January window, Scepovic was the only player in whom the Norwegian had invested a transfer fee.

The Dundee United Bhoys together cost less than the Serb - but they have already repaid that outlay with interest.

Deila is not writing off Scepovic. But it is clear from listening to what the manager has to say when his name is mentioned that he believes the solution to what ails the striker is down to the player himself.

"Again, it's tough competition for places," is Deila's protective answer when asked why Scepovic was back in Lennoxtown when the rest of the squad was in Milan.

The fact Anthony Stokes travelled - and made it onto the bench after Leigh Griffiths suffered an ankle injury the night before the game - after being left out of the squad for the previous two games following his late return for from Ireland for training, indicates just how far Scepovic has fallen well down the pecking order.

Deila was more forthcoming when he moved into what the player has to do to work his way back into contention.

"He knows the things I think he should work on to get better.

"He has to show me in training matches that he has improved on these things.

"Then I know how good a player he can be."

The biggest problem for Scepovic is timing.

The challenge of getting back into the manager's plans has fallen to him just when the side is playing the best it has all season.

Griffiths has made the starting position at the point of the attack his own with impressive, scoring performances.

John Guidetti has also battled back after a major dip and goal drought to make it a genuine fight for that role.

There are also other genuine options in attacking positions, with Stokes, Kris Commons, Mackay-Steven, Stefan Johansen and Armstrong all earning the right to be considered.

Deila accepts it is going to be tough for anyone to break into this team, as the strength of the bench underlines.

But he insisted the door is never closed on anyone, provided they are willing to put in the effort to unlock it.

"If you go through the season, people who work hard in training get their reward," is the incentive he offers.

"For Stefan as well, he has to really work hard now and do the right things to get in again."

If Scepovic needs any inspiration, he could do worse than follow the lead of Griffiths who was also struggling to make the changes demanded of Deila.

The penny finally dropped with the man seemingly on his way out three months ago, and now Griffiths is an integral part of the settled - and successful - side.

Having recovered from having had an ankle accidentally stamped on by Nir Bitton in Milan, Griffiths came out of his protective moon boot and stepped right back into the starting XI for Sunday's shoot out with Aberdeen.

He helped settle nerves which had previously been jangling by cooly slotting home the second goal from the spot.

That was the cue for the Hoops to run the Dons ragged and go on to win 4-0, a margin which could have been significantly greater, had they taken even half of their chances.

However, Deila has not dismissed the first half, during which Aberdeen caused his side serious problems, without managing to capitalise in terms of taking the lead.

In the first half of the season, being placed under such an onslaught would have created panic with the Hoops ranks.

But they kept their cool, weathered the storm, and came back like a whirlwind.

Deila believes that's a measure of how far they have progressed and said: "That is important, but it's at times like that experienced players like Broonie remain calm.

"That example gets into everyone in the team."

The result was not only another three very important points, but a doubling of the lead they hold over Aberdeen in the title race.

That advantage can be stretched to nine tomorrow night when Celtic play their game in hand, against St Johnstone.

Not that anything is being taken for granted. Deila recalls how Saints came back from 2-0 down at McDiarmid Park last month to end Craig Gordon's shut-out run and make his side sweat in the closing stages.

"They are tough to beat, and they have very good energy in their team," said the Hoops boss of the men from Perth, who are battling for a top-six spot.

"They also have experience.

"We have to cope with that and play a good game to win.

"We have good momentum just now, and are in good shape with a lot of confidence.

"So, it is going to be hard for them to beat us."