Alison McConnell, Tony Haggerty and Sean Martin pick their top three Celts across the year 2021...

Alison McConnell

1. Callum McGregor – McGregor has assumed the role of captaincy with little fanfare. The midfielder inherited the role at a transitional time for the club but has assimilated to the responsibilities of the role with ease. His attitude and performances, too, are an example to the squad as a whole with his willingness not only to work his socks off but to play where he is required for the benefit of the team.

2. Kyogo Furuhashi –It would be difficult to look at the contributions of Celtic players in the opening half of this season without mentioning Kyogo. The Japan international has been a seamless addition to the squad, quickly becoming a talismanic figure at the club. His goals, movement and vision have been a nightmare for opposition defences and the expectation would be that his contribution will be just as significant in 2022.

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3. Tom Rogic – Jota has had a fantastic start to his Celtic career and could well have found himself occupying this slot despite his relatively recent arrival on a loan deal but Rogic will take the plaudits here for me. The Australian has had a new lease of life under Ange Postecoglou and is arguably on his way to his move influential Celtic season since the Invincibles campaign.

His role has adapted somewhat since then with fewer goals but more assists as he takes responsibility in the middle of the park. Unplayable in certain games with graceful elegance and balletic movement, Rogic's understanding with Kyogo has been notable. 

Tony Haggerty

1. Kyogo Furuhashi – What can you say about the talismanic Japanese bhoy? The £4.6million Celtic shelled out to Vissel Kobe in July looks like being the steal of the season and a masterstroke signing. The striker exudes supreme confidence on the park and he is fast rivalling super Swede Henrik Larsson in the popularity stakes.

His 16 goals so far this season have been a huge boon for Ange Postecoglou and the Celtic supporters, not least his fantastic brace in the League Cup final which secured the first silverware of the campaign. His work-rate, boundless energy and the fact that he plays with a smile on his face have been an absolute joy to watch.

Some of his other antics have raised a smile too - like picking up litter, massaging injured players legs and taking videos of his team-mates training while he was injured on the sidelines. It's fair to say Kyogo is a Celtic fan favourite already. What an impact he has made just six short months into his career in Glasgow's east end. 

2. Tom Rogic – The Aussie was supposed to be heading for the Celtic Park exit door in the summer until Postecoglou took over. What a transformation there has been in Rogic as the manager has let the "Wizard of Oz" express himself and play with a freedom that was rarely granted to him under previous regimes, with the possible exception of the Brendan Rodgers era.

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It is small wonder that Rogic is having his best season since the Invincibles campaign in a Celtic shirt and it is largely down to Postecoglou. Rogic's showreel of Celtic goals is impressive but, up until this season, they were largely isolated moments in a disjointed Celtic career. Not anymore.  At 29, the peak years of his career may still lie ahead which is a bonus for Celtic as the Aussie is a sublimely talented footballer.

3. David Turnbull – The 10-in-a-row campaign was a total write off for Celtic as Neil Lennon's side crashed and burned in the title race. The one shining light to emerge though was midfielder David Turnbull. The former Motherwell midfielder had a starring role in a tremendous 3-2 Europa League win over Lille and hasn't looked back since. Having comeback from a career-threatening injury, Turnbull was the silver lining on the dark clouds last season.

His goals and stellar displays in the engine room at least gave Celtic something to shout about when cheer was in short supply. Turnbull has started where he left off last season and has bagged nine goals already for Postecoglou in this campaign and has more than showed his worth to the Aussie. Sadly a hamstring injury sustained in the League Cup final win over Hibs looks set to rule him out for two months. He will be sorely missed.

Sean Martin

1. Callum McGregor – The first half of 2021 was not particularly kind to McGregor - but how he has bounced back to prominence as the leader of a new age at the cub has demonstrated the character he possesses as well as the quality.

And there is no doubting his quality. Whether at the base of midfield or further forward the 28-year-old is in the thick of things and absolutely integral to not only initiating the way Celtic want to play but keeping the team in tune even when things aren't going in their favour.

Postecoglou, perhaps summing up the influence of his captain better than anyone, said of McGregor: "He leads by example and he’s a man of action and words."

Replacing Scott Brown is not for everyone; it's for McGregor.

2. Kyogo Furuhashi – He might only have made his debut at the end of July but the impact Kyogo has made in his 26 appearances has been massive and he deserves a nod in these year-end awards.

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That it was his goals specifically that brought silverware back to Parkhead after last season's nightmare and ensured the Postecoglou era bagged a trophy at the first time of asking is but the cherry on top of this brilliant, bandy-legged cake.

Kyogo is truly an Ange Postecoglou signing for an Ange Postecoglou team and now, potentially, he's becoming the man for a generation of Celtic fans too.

3. David Turnbull – He took a while to adapt to the responsibilities playing as an eight in an Ange Postecoglou team entails - and, you could argue, is still adapting to them - but with nine goals already this term Turnbull has contributed regularly.

The 22-year-old notched 14 goals and nine assists in the calendar year and, for the first half of 2021 in particular, he retains enormous credit. That was when he really made his mark as a first-team regular and his displays were one of very few shining lights in a season full of darkness.

The bookend to his year was, unfortunately, an injury that will keep him out into the early parts of 2022 but, for me, the emergence of Turnbull remains one of the foremost positives of Celtic's 2021.

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