A little late, perhaps, but Ronny Deila got in on the David Bowie tribute act when he urged his youngsters to be heroes – and for more than just one day.

Speaking after a season in which Kieran Tierney has come to the fore at the club, and James Forrest has been offered a new four-and-a-half year contract to keep him at the club while Callum McGregor is sitting comfortably in the middle of the park, Deila maintained his belief that it is imperative for the club to continue to bring through their own talent.

While Deila acknowledged that Celtic will always want to supplement that with talent gleaned from the transfer market, he is desperate to create a culture at the club that encourages players to move into the senior team without fear.

“It is so important for me that we have players like Callum and Kieran in the team, for lots of reasons,” said Deila.

“They know the city, they know the culture, they know what it means to pull on the shirt and what they have to do to keep it. I always think that players who come from families who supported the club are willing to sweat blood for it – they give everything.

“But it is more than just that. I think it great for our academy players to look and see that it is possible to play here. You can come to Celtic and you can make it to the first-team – it is important to see the heroes every day. That is the message we want to put into the academy, that you can make it here.

“That is also why guys like Charlie [Mulgrew] and Scott [Brown] are so important too. Charlie came close, went away and came back and these guys are Mr Celtic now. Scott is working with some of our youth players in a coaching environment and keeping that strong Scottish spine is something we always want to do at this club.

“Of course, we will always look to do business in the transfer market because we want to be at top club. We see ourselves as a Champions League club and it is about building a team with a mixture of youth and experience that can take us to that level now.”

McGregor was drafted back into the side because of injury and suspension issues but he has kept his place in the middle of the park.

Assured on the ball, with quick feet, an accurate pass and decent vision with the ball at his feet, the player has looked comfortable playing just inside in the middle of the park as opposed to playing out on the wing.

And Deila has applauded the 22-year-old for knuckling down and forcing himself back into the team.

“He has taken his chance,” said Deila. “He has worked hard, he is playing well and it is up to him now to stay there.

“We are pleased with him. He can create and his confidence is good at the minute. It also means that with Charlie and Scott looking to come back soon that we will have a lot of competition for places which is good.”

The next 10 days are pivotal for Celtic and Deila as the club strive for a domestic Treble.

Given the manner of the performances in Europe this season, it is fair to say t hat delivering on a domestic front is paramount for the affable Norwegian who has steadied the ship and quietened, if not silenced, his critics in recent weeks.

But there remains a question mark over whether or not he is capable of leading the club into the elevated company of the Champions League. Making his mark with a Treble this season would enhance his hand when it comes to anticipating a third crack at getting the club into the elite company of the group stages.

With Ross County at Hampden this Sunday in the League Cup semi-final, followed by a midweek trip to Pittodrie where they could effectively swat aside Aberdeen’s title challenge with a win, it is period of time that can be definitive in Deila’s ambitions of securing a clean sweep.

“The Treble is something we have said all along that we want,” said the Celtic manager.

“We came very close last season. We all know what happened in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup and you just have to go in as prepared as possible for every game and see where it takes you but it is not an easy thing to achieve.

“It is something that you can’t do anything about but everyone saw the game and saw what it happened and it just shows how tough it is.

“These games that are coming up now are so important and it is so important that we go into them in the right frame of mind.

“Ross County on Sunday at Hampden gives us the chance to move forward and put ourselves in a final which is always a big motivation. “