It's another international break and that means one thing: The Celtic Way Power Rankings are back with a bang.

Last time out, with the World Cup on the horizon, last season's winner Cameron Carter-Vickers set the pace followed closely by Jota and the surprisingly consistent package that is Anthony Ralston.

Will the American retain his spot at the summit? What impact have the new signings had on proceedings? Has the magnificent upturn in form from Aaron Mooy disrupted the usual suspects at the top? 

Let's find out - but firstly an explainer in case this is your first visit to the TCW power rankings. Last season's entries can be found here, here, here and here while the one from earlier this term is here. 

Subscribers will already know that we produce detailed man-by-man match ratings for every game.

International breaks are the perfect time to collate those marks and put the results to you as well as use them to crown our TCW player of the season at the end of the campaign. 

This has always, it seems to us, been a more natural way to measure what has transpired game by game rather than simply plucking names out of a hat after the fact.

READ MORE: The Celtic player whose goals have had the biggest impact this season

The threshold for inclusion on this occasion is a straight 900 minutes of action in the first-team – that’s just the equivalent of 10 full matches and you’re in. Not too much to ask 42 games into the campaign.

James Forrest (721 minutes), Stephen Welsh (563) , James McCarthy (85) and keepers Scott Bain (zero) and Benjamin Seigrist (190) don't make the cut and neither do winter signings Yuki Kobayashi (237), Tomoki Iwata (152) or Oh Hyeon-gyu (284).

Additionally, those who made the cut but are no longer at the club are excluded too. That means no mention of Giorgos Giakoumakis (who would've been 12th), Moritz Jenz (13th) or Josip Juranovic (14th).

It leaves us with 17 qualifying players which we will give you in reverse order. Like before, appearances not long enough to warrant a match rating of, for instance, more than a three or a four are removed from the tallies. Where two players have finished level in average rating, the tie-breaker gives the nod to the player who has played more often.

And away we go...

17. David Turnbull

Previous position: 18th ⬆️

'The Bull' has suffered of late and has been starved of serious starter's game-time but there is not much that he can do about it. The form of Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate, Aaron Mooy and Matt O'Riley has largely seen to that.

Strangely enough, despite the second-string status Turnbull has still weighed in with five goals and four assists in 1,253 minutes. He clearly remains a player Postecoglou has a lot of time for but one wonders if he will be happy to stick around in his current role with his contract up at the end of next season. He could well face a major decision this summer. TH

Rating: 6.33

Further reading: Don't write off David Turnbull just yet

16. Liel Abada

Previous position: 21st ⬆️

The Israeli winger hit the ground running last season and blasted in 15 goals in his dream debut campaign - a massive contribution to Celtic's Scottish Premiership and League Cup success under Ange Postecoglou.

The PFA Scotland young player of the year for 2021-22 has found the going slightly tougher this campaign but it is worth noting that he has still chipped in with a healthy total of 12 goals and seven assists thus far in all competitions, including 10 in the league alone.

As always Abada really shines in advanced stats; he is third in the league for xG Assisted and top 10 in overall, shooting and dribbling on-ball value.

In total he has scored 27 goals and created 16 in his Celtic career to date, averaging a goal or assist every 102 minutes of action, so while his ranking here remains on the lower end of the scale it does not mean he's been any less productive. TH

Rating: 6.35

Further reading: We have to talk about Liel Abada...

15. Alexandro Bernabei

Previous position: 13th ⬇️

The jury is still out on Bernabei. He seems to split the support asunder during games and has become a bit of a Celtic conundrum.

Going forward, Bernabei has proven to be particularly adept and he does pose a real attacking threat. His distribution can be lacking at times and seems to be an area which needs to be improved upon. In short, the perception is that he gives away possession cheaply and leaves his side vulnerable.

Bernabei has all the raw ingredients required to become a good Celtic player but patience will have to be the buzzword because he isn't replacing Greg Taylor in the starting 11 anytime soon - and he hasn't been able to encroach on the top 10 here either. TH

Rating: 6.50

Further reading: A word about Alexandro Bernabei

14. Sead Haksabanovic

Previous position: 14th ↔️

After arriving at Parkhead near the end of August, it took until October before Haksabanovic got some comprehensive game-time.

The Montenegrin went on a decent run before the World Cup break and won the November player of the month award but couldn't build on that after the turn of the year with a spell out injured hampering his progress.

Nevertheless, he has recently got himself back into starting contention and, as the chart above testifies, remains an absolute beast in terms of advanced stats.

Fundamentally, it still seems just a matter of time before he explodes into life - and that will likely mean not only a more regular place in the starting 11 but the upper echelons of these rankings too. SM

Rating: 6.55

Further reading: Celtic's domestic dominance underlined by cutting-edge statistic

13. Daizen Maeda

Previous position: 20th ⬆️

The Japan international remains an integral part of how Celtic play and the manner in which they do it.

He has rocketed up seven spaces but a spate of 6s and 5s in the early parts of the season keep him in the latter part of these rankings but his effectiveness is still clear to see in the advanced stats.

He is, for instance, not only the league leader in possession-adjusted pressures, second in both counter-pressure regains and possession-adjusted tackles and interecption as well as top five in pressure regains. Remarkably, he is top five for xG per shot too.

In basic terms? Maeda's output actually matches his effort. SM

Rating: 6.56

Further reading: Daizen Maeda and the World Cup effect

12. Joe Hart

Previous position: 12th ↔️

The 35-year-old custodian just continues to defy his critics. Hart may well have won the English Premier League and played in World Cups, European championships and the Champions League but he’s still absolutely loving life at Celtic judging by his reaction to winning the Scottish League Cup for the second year in a row.

He has become a cult hero in the eyes of the Hoops faithful too and, as Celtic tick down to what will be a second successive title, Hart has already played 40 matches and kept a clean sheet in 16.

An Achilles heel remains though. His distribution of the ball from the back leaves a lot to be desired at times as well as his penalty shot-stopping prowess (or indeed lack of it).

There's no doubt he has proven to be a very shrewd signing for Celtic overall however Postecoglou would surely be wise to already be thinking of succession planning in the position. TH

Rating: 6.75

Further reading: In defence of Joe Hart, Celtic's latter-day Holy Goalie

11. Matt O’Riley

Previous position: 4th ⬇️

O'Riley's season was partially interrupted not by an injury he suffered himself but by one to another player. Callum McGregor going down for a considerable spell led Postecoglou to turn to the Dane as his deepest midfielder.

He adapted to that role well but the form of Aaron Mooy in particular made a return to his customary position a tad more difficult than it was - yet is the perception that he has been off the boil true?

As well as sitting joint top in the league for assists he is fourth in possession-adjusted pressures, second in counter-pressures, top 10 for possession-adjusted tackles, fifth for xG Assisted and top 10 for key passes per 90.

The perception - and even the rankings, given his slide from the last entry - might speak to a slight decline in O'Riley's performance but the data doesn't lie: he's still an influential part of the Celtic team and one of the most well-rounded players in the league. SM

Rating: 6.93

Further reading: Why O'Riley has come of age in McGregor's absence

10. Reo Hatate

Previous position: 7th ⬇️

Hatate's rise and rise at Celtic has been nothing short of meteoric. It really is incredible to think that the 25-year-old midfielder on his arrival in Glasgow had only been playing professional football for nearly three years.

Hatate has made 37 appearances under Postecoglou so far this season and weighed in with eight goals and provided six assists so, although he is down here since the lat rankings, it is not through a downturn in his own form.

The manager has stated publicly that the midfielder is always asking how to improve his game - and he penned a column in the Japanese media about tweaks he has made already. 

It's that self-awareness, coupled with assuredness and a great work ethic, that should see Hatate reach the very top. It is no great surprise either to learn that Hatate is being widely touted to win the SPFL player of the year award come June. TH

Rating: 7.11

Further reading: The Hatate masterclass at heart of Celtic's Rangers rinsing

9. Kyogo Furuhashi

Previous position: 8th ⬇️

What can you say about Kyogo? With 46 goals in 72 appearances from his Celtic career to date so far one thing is certain: that total will continue to rise.

His ranking, by contrast, has actually dropped by one despite his superb scoring return. However if his last 10 matches are anything to go by - a 7.6 average that included six 8s and a 9 - he will be marching back up to the podium positions soon enough.

His recent brace in the League Cup final against Rangers at Hampden was him at his lethal best. Those goals highlighted not just his excellent movement but his deadly striker's predatory instinct too.

He has proven himself to be a big player for the big moments. Small wonder that Celtic captain Callum McGregor labelled him a superstar. He is dancing and the fans are dancing with him. TH

Rating: 7.12

Further reading: Kyogo Furuhashi through the eyes of a Celtic legend

8. Aaron Mooy

Previous position: 16th ⬆️

Or Aaron, Aaron Mooy... Aaron, Aaron Mooy to give him his proper title.

The Australia international has definitely proven himself to be a Daddy Cool in the midfield. It is no mean feat after an initial slow start that Mooy has come in and dislodged the sublimely talented Matt O'Riley from the Celtic starting 11.

The 32-year-old enjoyed a stellar World Cup in Qatar and has brought those levels to Celtic of late. Mooy has contributed seven goals and eight assists in a shade shy of 2,000 competitive minutes. SM

He was also involved in both goals that led to Kyogo Furuhashi scoring twice in the League Cup final against Rangers at Hampden. Put simply: Postecoglou knew exactly what he was doing when he brought the older, calmer and wiser Mooy to Parkhead.

The midfielder has proven to be a cool customer from 12 yards too - scoring three from three since assuming those duties - as his progression into a real driving force continues. It's no surprise he has jumped so many places in these rankings. TH

Rating: 7.22

Further reading: Aaron Mooy's journey to the top by those who witnessed it

7. Carl Starfelt

Previous position: 17th ⬆️

The Sweden international has still to taste defeat in a domestic outing when paired alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers. The central defensive duo have formed a formidable partnership and is the bedrock of Celtic's dominance.

Yet he is still viewed with suspicion by many of the Hoops faithful. Opposition teams do pinpoint him as a potential weak link and they do try to exploit his deficiencies - and he has not helped his own case with some dodgy moments (namely at Ibrox and against Hibernian).

In Starfelt's defence, his mistakes tend to be magnified more than other outfield players. He doesn't tend to get the benefit of the doubt but he does possess decent ability for a player who is not a natural left-sided centre-back, is level with his partner in pass completion percentage among centre-backs and leads the league in possession-adjusted clearances, top 10 in possession-adjusted pressures, aerial win rate and aerial wins per 90. TH

Rating: 7.23

Further reading: Christopher Jullien, Carl Starfelt and the dangers of data

6. Jota

Previous position: 2nd ⬇️

Still arguably the most talented player in Scottish football, Jota finds himself down four spots from the last update but has virtually the same average rating.

With nine goals and eight assists in 1,819 Premiership minutes, he is on course to reach double figures in both for the second season running

The kicker? Last term he averaged a league goal contribution every 109.6 minutes; this season it's every 107. 

So despite his fall in these rankings he is actually improving - and that's a scary thought for the rest of the SPFL. SM

Rating: 7.31

Further reading: Why Jota is back to his terrorising best

5. Greg Taylor

Previous position: 6th ⬆️

An extraordinarily consistent campaign sees Taylor move up the table for the fourth straight Power Rankings and he beats out Jota for the top five by playing 521 more minutes than the Portuguese. 

Whether he is quite high enough is the only real question here. He has only dipped below a 7 rating on five occasions this campaign and - albeit his integral role in the Postecoglou system is not reflected in things like assists (three) or goals (also three, triple his previous best) - the fundamental improvement he has experienced under the manager continues unabated.

He has three 9-rated games and only one fewer 8 than 7s - fifth he might be here but in terms of material improvement since last summer there is arguably nobody better. SM

Rating: 7.31

Further reading: The 'huge but subtle' improvement behind Greg Taylor's rise

4. Anthony Ralston

Previous position: 3rd ⬇️

The right-back has been unfortunate to see just 99 minutes of action so far in 2023 but he still comfortably makes the threshold with 1,044 clocked in total this term.

A knock in a pre-Christmas match and further injury worries after the new year coupled with the rise of Alistair Johnston explains his recent lack of pitch-time but it is clear Postecoglou still holds the Scotland man in the highest regard.

He has two assists to his name this season - which seems scant in comparison to the eight he managed last term - but his form when he has played has been simply excellent.

The defeat to St Mirren in Paisley back in September aside, every qualifying match the 24-year-old has featured in has carried a 7 or an 8 rating. Given he has been in more adverse career situations than this one the message here seems clear: never write off The Brickie. TH

Rating: 7.36

Further reading: Warrior, brickie, soldier... captain?

3. Callum McGregor

Previous position: 5th ⬆️

The captain's form since returning from a lengthy lay-off have been sensational.

McGregor slotted back in the only way he knows how - with a performance oozing in class and influence as he scored a vital winner away to Aberdeen. 

That is one of two goals the skipper has scored this season, with both coming against the Dons and both match-winners. We gave him a 9 for that one at Pittodrie and he has accumulated 10 8-rated displays since then.

He is, and will remain, a player whose impact is hard to quantify. He's back in the top three here. SM

Rating: 7.41

Further reading: Iwata, McGregor and a healthy dose of Celtic reality

2. Alistair Johnston

Previous position: New entry 🆕

Only 1,274 minutes played? Check. Absolutely excellent for virtually all of those? Double check.

On Alistair Johnston's debut - a Glasgow Derby at Ibrox, lest we forget - he was handed a 6 rating. Since then he has rarely been anything other than an 8.

Marrying a likeable affability off the pitch with serious application and attitude on it, he's become a bit of a fan favourite within months of touching down in Glasgow. 

So consistent has the Canadian been, in fact, that he's jumped straight onto the podium in his first-ever entry to these rankings.

He has also made people forget about a man nicknamed Fireball - there's probably no better compliment than that. SM

Rating: 7.69

Further reading: Why Johnston is on course for ultimate Postecoglou compliment

1. Cameron Carter-Vickers

Previous position: 1st ↔️

We jokingly refer to this man as 'Cameron Carter-Vickers 8' because of how often we feel he earns that match rating. It's becoming less of a joke with each passing month. 

He's now been given that mark on 26 different occasions this season and his solitary (yes, there is literally only one) 6 rating came in the home match against Shakhtar Donetsk.

This was pointed out in the last update but bears repeating here. It is possible to identify precisely when Carter-Vickers was out for three games earlier in the season just by looking at the ratings of the defensive players across those matches.

Without their influential USA international as a touchstone, the other defenders and goalkeeper failed to collectively attract a rating higher than a 6 (with the exception of one, Taylor, who picked up a 7 against Motherwell).

He truly is that good. He tops these rankings for the third successive entry. SM

Rating: 7.71

Further reading: Carter-Vickers taught Goldson a lesson & it won Celtic the cup