FROM adversity, opportunity is born. It is the men who seize them who put a smile on the face of Gordon Strachan.

As the carnage which was the Lennoxtown treatment room begins to clear, the positives of what has been a difficult situation are being appreciated.

Two men - one a youngster, the other a well-travelled journeyman - have emerged from recent weeks with distinction.

And while Strachan joins in the universal praise for teenage striker Cillian Sheridan, team-mate Massimo Donati also gets a very honourable mention in dispatches.

The Italian midfielder has emerged from the shadows to remind everyone what he has to offer this Celtic side.

His man-of-the-match performance against Kilmanrock in midweek repaid some of the faith Strachan has retained in the 27-year-old who started his Parkhead career with a bang last season but then allowed his form and first-team prospects to fizzle out.

The midfield department of the side is so strong that no one is guaranteed a start. But, if Donati continues to apply himself as he did against Killie, the manager is more than willing to keep the door open for him.

Strachan said: "We all tell players here to keep their head up and wait for their chance, though we know we can't keep everybody happy all of the time.

"But sometimes it is nice for people to have knocks in life as they can come back harder.

"Massimo has had a knock and has been left out of the team for a while. But we have shown by playing him this week, and surprising a few people by doing so, that he is there in our thoughts.

"I've played him in big games, including against Barcelona last year. So it's up to him to return that compliment and say, Okay, they trust me. I'll go out there and play the way I can.' "There will be times for Massimo to play, and times for other lads to play, depending on the game and the opposition.

"Massimo can see forward passes. He can switch the play, and when you need someone to do that, as we did against Kilmarnock, he is probably the best we have at the club."

Hamilton on Sunday will be another challenge, possibly for another set of players. And, with a handful of his injured heroes returning to contention, Donati will just have to wait and see if he can retrain his place.

He does at least have freshness in his locker, having played so seldom this season.

But, to make it in Strachan's side, you need more than that. As well as terrific fitness, character has carried them through from early setbacks to a point where their season, domestically and in Europe, could be defined.

This has come as no surprise to the manager who said proudly: "I don't think anyone should ever question the character of this side after what they have achieved over the last few years."

Nevertheless, he is delighted they go into Sunday's game looking for their 12th straight win in the SPL and Co-operative Insurance Cup.

Then, Strachan will be afforded some respite as bulk of his players head off on international duty. An opportunity to take stock, if not a sharp intake of breath before the next heavy salvo of important games?

"As we're going along, we are constantly analysing," he replied. "We're winning and our performances are good as well, which is a big bonus.

"The only thing we didn't do against Kilmarnock was kill them off earlier with the chances we had. We were a bit sloppy in front of goal."

Which is where Sheridan stepped in with his first brace for the club.

Strachan knows the gangly teenager offers much more than finishing. His all-round game is improving, and the manager is excited to see just how quickly he is developing.

He said: "The opening goal on Wednesday was terrific from him. To get up, flick it on, turn, make the run for the pass from Scott, take it and compose yourself again before finishing so well. It really was a terrific goal in every sense."

Sheridan might have made the big breakthrough even sooner, had his steep learning curve not been dented by a series of injuries, including a hip muscle problem which kept him out for most of last season.

Strachan said: "Cillian also had hamstring problems, and those injuries scare you as a manager because when something re-occurs like that, you begin to think, That's another two months he is out.

"That's what we were wary about when we started playing him in these games. But he is looking stronger all the time."

Sheridan confirmed that new-found resilience when he shook off a heavy challenge from behind midway through second half, dusted himself down and got up to score the vital second goal against Killie.

Just before he rammed it past Alan Combe, Georgios Samaras appeared on the sidelines ready to make his comeback from surgery.

But Sheridan was never the man in Strachan's mind to come off. He wanted to see what the two big fellows could do together, and was happy to give McDonald a break from the action.

He explained: "We wanted to see if Cillian could get another goal, and he deserved to stay on because he was flying.

"I was also mindful Scotty had taken a knock in training on Tuesday, when we were practising crossing, believe it or not.

"We were being so careful to have no contact when working with the strikers, and he got flattened when the young keeper clattered into him.

"So Scotty did well to get back and play on Wednesday because it was a scary incident at the time.

"I also felt he was working hard, as he always done, but it was just not his night to score, and I was doing what I could to give him a rest in such a busy time."

That schedule continues at Hamilton, and Strachan knows what to expect on the club's first ever visit to New Douglas Park.

He said. "I was at the first game there this season, when they played Dundee United, and it was a good night. I think it will be a similar sort of atmosphere on Sunday."