The alacrity of recovery seems just as stark as the speed of a downfall.

Never slow at shying away from a bit of hyperbole there were noises of Celtic being stuck in the doldrums for seasons on end when the manner in which they collapsed last summer was married to a Rangers resurgence.

The Ibrox side cantered to the title, didn’t lose a league game and played with their chests puffed out. A little bit of confidence can go a long way.

The pursuit of Eddie Howe, the backdoor feeling of Ange Postecoglou’s arrival and the hand-wringing that went with it wasn’t helped by a Champions League exit to Midtjylland at the first hurdle. A defeat at Tynecastle compounded the sense of freefall.

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As fears grew for Postecoglou drowning in a torrent of tough games before August, it is of note just how quickly he has managed to turn the tide.

It is too early to predict Celtic’s fate this season but it would be inarguable that all of a sudden the trip to Ibrox for the opening derby of the campaign is nowhere near as daunting as it might have been.

Six goals in six games haven’t just endeared Kyogo Furuhashi to the Celtic support. The confidence, vitality and energy he lends to the club’s forward line have had a positive influence on those around him.

He and Tom Rogic look entirely in sync when the Australian plays just behind him. The re-emergence of Rogic is just another intriguing strand that has emerged in recent weeks.

Rangers’ start to the season has been sobering when compared to the few bumps in the road that met them last term.

Still, Celtic have not won at Ibrox since 2019. Last season was the first time since season 1999/2000 that Celtic failed to beat Rangers during a league campaign. The 4-1 defeat in May was Celtic’s heaviest to Rangers since 2007 and yet, all of a sudden, the trek across the city is considerably less intimidating.

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Given the psychology that plays such an important part in these games – and whoever says that the form book goes out the window for these matches needs to check again; the form team invariably emerges on top – there is always a feeling that the team with the belief is the team who takes the spoils.

The backline of the Celtic defence remains a work in progress but Joe Hart’s leadership and form offer the promise of reliability. The jury is still out on Carl Starfelt but for Tony Ralston, Stephen Welsh and Greg Taylor there is a feeling they have shown substantial character in recent performances given some of the criticism they came in for. The next few weeks will offer an indication of just how far Celtic have come.

The 2-0 win over AZ Alkmaar showcased both sides of the team with breath-taking forward movement allied to a sharp intake of breath at the other end. Managing the second leg and getting into the Europa League would be welcome.

This week will be seen as an opportunity to keep the momentum going before the Ibrox clash.