It has been well documented, both in this column and elsewhere, that Celtic looked a like a team requiring a break. All the signs were there that it was badly needed. Now that they’ve had it, the benefits are there for all to see.

Anyone who watched the commanding victory over Hearts on Tuesday night will no doubt agree with that particular observation. In the wins over Partick Thistle and Hibernian prior to the Hearts triumph, Celtic didn’t quite find top gear but managed to winkle out the victory. That is par for the course over a long campaign. First and foremost, you want to win. If you can win with a bit of flair and style then even better. But that just can’t happen on weekly basis. The 3-1 win over Hearts was as impressive a performance as I’ve seen from this Celtic team for a while. And, let’s face it, it could have been even more comprehensive. I sat back and watched the match unfold and thought to myself, ‘yes, that’s them back to full speed.’

They simply pummelled Hearts with a great, thrusting sense of adventure, particularly in the first half. What was particularly interesting was the success Brendan Rodgers enjoyed with the adoption of the twin strikers in the early part of the game. The partnership of Moussa Dembele, who looked galvanised, and young Odsonne Edouard looked very promising. That’s something you can see blossoming and being utilised in the weeks and months ahead. It really was an effective, purposeful alliance and it had Hearts on the back foot.

Tuesday’s win sent out a real statement of intent and it was a robust riposte to the four goal defeat they suffered at Tynecastle at the end of the year. Hearts had been making impressive strides but that Celtic performance was almost a wee reminder to the Edinburgh club; ‘how dare you beat us 4-0’.

There is no doubt that Hearts deserved that thumping win back in December. As far as Celtic were concerned, though, it was a case of ‘hold on a minute here.’ Rodgers and his men took that reversal on the chin and gave Hearts the credit for their win. But you could almost sense on Tuesday night that such a result wouldn’t be allowed to happen again.

They set the tone right from the start and reaped the rewards with a dominant display. It once again highlighted one of Celtic’s great strengths. When it comes to these crunch games they find that extra something and that is a quality Brendan has instilled in them. Celtic in that form are just about unstoppable.

Going into the second half of the campaign, there is plenty to look forward to. The transfer window has closed and while Charly Musonda may be the high profile signing, the recruitment of Jack Hendry really fits the bill as far as Brendan’s philosophy is concerned. It’s about bringing youngsters in, developing them and making them into better players. Along with Lewis Morgan, his acquisitions have been young talents and that’s encouraging. You look at the average age of the team the other night and it was very young.

Fans can often get frustrated when there is a lack of activity in the window or no big name coming in but the Celtic supporters will have a great trust in what Brendan is trying to do and in the way he works. The problem for Celtic is the obvious one. When you see the sums being spent down south, you simply can’t compete in that market. The trust in Brendan’s judgement, however, remains strong and it’s worked for Celtic so far. Developing youngsters to come through and be of a quality to play for Celtic is all part of his mantra. What it also shows is that Brendan will be there for a period of time. He’ll want to nurture these players and see the job through. That’s a very rewarding aspect of the job.

Hendry obviously caught Brendan’s eye and he’s kept tabs on him. It may have been something of an eye-opener for some but Brendan has monitored him and has seen the qualities he possesses. He’ll be convinced he’s got a very good purchase.

Getting Dembele back into frontline action, meanwhile, is almost akin to having a new addition to the squad. I always felt he would stay and I’m delighted he has. I’m sure he will recapture the form he showed last season. I’m a great admirer of him and he’ll be looking to force his way into the French World Cup squad. Does he have a chance? You’ll have to ask the French manager that but I certainly believe he can make a strong push.

Celtic still have the likes of Tom Rogic, Stuart Armstrong and Marvin Compper to come back from injury. Put it all together and you have a very strong unit. And that’s an ominous sign for the rest.

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