Celtic’s reliance on fringe men for huge Leipzig game again underlines shambolic summer

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Celtic know by now that they should have done better, more decisive business in the summer.

After an outstanding period under Brendan Rodgers, the time was right to invest in the playing staff to freshen up the squad, increase competition for places and push Celtic onto the next level.

Dallying and haggling cost the club that opportunity and their title defence has already suffered badly as a result; missing out on John McGinn to an Aston Villa side who are themselves in a shambolic financial state is the prime example.

But now Rodgers travels to Germany to face RB Leipzig looking for a result that could shape Celtic’s Europa League campaign shorn of a host of first-team stars.

Instead of having a squad bolstered by a summer of additions to call on, Rodgers must turn to fringe players such as Eboue Kouassi, Jozo Simunovic, Lewis Morgan and Ryan Christie to drag him through the tricky period.

Not having more with which to fight this injury issue is another consequence of the summer of inactivity that changed everything for Celtic.

They are still feeling the impact, and may well do all season, unless an action-packed January can make up for the stagnant summer.