Competition for places is always a positive factor in the sport of football.

Admittedly for Celtic, this has not always been present this season, for one reason or another. Thanks to both injuries and players not hitting the required standard, many individuals have been ever-present for Brendan Rodgers’ side this season when fit and available for selection. The biggest example of this is perhaps Liam Scales, who – until last time out versus St Johnstone – has been one of the first names on the team-sheet for the club, though this replies to other players such as Alistair Johnston and Daizen Maeda, too.

Rodgers’ wingers have been a mixed bag this season, to put it lightly. The aforementioned Maeda – though consistently available – blows hot and cold when it comes to form, with Luis Palma displaying the same traits just six months into his Celtic career. James Forrest – despite his positive cameos recently – cannot physically execute a 90-minute performance, whilst Liel Abada moved to the MLS outside of the transfer window because of off-field issues relating to his homeland.

READ MORE: Analysing Alistair: Dissecting Johnston's perfectly-timed ‘best Celtic form’

However, there have been some green (and white) shoots of recovery - particularly on the right wing that Forrest sometimes operates – due to the collective upturn in form from Yang Hyun-jun and Nicolas Kuhn. Signing in the summer and winter respectively, the pair have looked increasingly positive since their integration into first-team matters over the past month or so.

Kuhn’s sudden emergence as a viable option has been down to the vacant slot left by Yang, due to his dismissal and subsequent two-match ban for his dangerous challenge on Hearts’ Alex Cochrane at Tynecastle earlier this month. The proverbial door was opened for the former Rapid Vienna man, and he took the chance that was afforded to him following his reinsertion into Rodgers’ side. Indeed, three goal contributions – one goal and two assists - signified a changed Kuhn, one that looked in control of his offensive abilities out on the wing. Two floated deliveries into the path of the Japan duo of Kyogo Furuhashi and Maeda were dispatched by the pair, with the former supplying a tap-in for the provider to get in on the act himself against Craig Levein’s St Johnstone.

Despite the Germany winger being the flavour of the month at Celtic, the player on Rodgers’ lips recently has been Yang, who has impressed him in training over the past few weeks. His two-match punishment seems to have been put to good use, as the South Korea international has been hard at work improving other areas of his game, according to his manager. Rodgers said: “I can see his progress, he did great against Dundee [in the 7-1 win] and he has been progressing every day in training.

"We spoke to him, it wasn’t his fault [the red card against Hearts], it was unfortunate and sadly he has missed a couple of games. He will be back and feeling great and if anything, it gave us the opportunity to put Nicolas Kuhn in as well. Now he looks like he has come onto his game and looking stronger. He looks a different player in training now. So, it’s been a great opportunity for him.

READ MORE: Celtic's week of reckoning: SFA hearing and plastic pitch loom

"If nothing else, after those couple of games, what we gained from that is game time for Nicolas who has shown up really well, then Yang comes back, and we have two really good players for that position. He has been working on his overall game, and his understanding out on the field. His analysis behind the scenes. Getting his upper body strength because it’s a physical game here and in Europe.

“Whatever league you are in in Britain it’s a physically demanding league. He has just grown throughout the season and it’s so good to see.”

From a position that appeared to be causing headaches for the manager just a few short weeks ago, to an area where Celtic now looks to be blessed in both depth and actual quality, the question remains quite simple: who starts for Celtic at Livingston on Sunday afternoon? The international break perhaps throws a spanner in the works, as their respective form will only go so far when discussing games that took place over two weeks ago by the time Sunday comes around.

Additionally, Yang was the only player out of the duo to be involved in games internationally over the break, as he turned out for South Korea’s U23 team for games against Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Australia in the WAFF Championship, a mini-tournament that he won the MVP award for.

READ MORE: Celtic's loanee analysed: How is Kwon getting on at St Mirren?

Clearly, the club have two wingers that are bang on-form at the moment. It puts the ‘yellow jersey’ analogy to the test, as the holder of this metaphorical advantage is not clear at the moment, due to both international escapades and the break itself halting Kuhn’s good progress in the starting line-up.

Both bring a quick and direct style, along with a keenness to run at their marker. You only need to look at the last time Kuhn played against Livingston to recognise how much of a torrid time the winger gave Cristian Montano, with the pair potentially being reacquainted again this weekend at the Tony Macaroni Arena. This may be the reason why Rodgers elects to go with his January signing over Yang, especially due to the forced lay-off he will have suffered over the last few weeks due to not playing.

Either way, it is a great conundrum for Rodgers to have, as we head into the business end of the domestic season. With two trophies still very much up for grabs, these two players will no doubt have a big part to play for the rest of the campaign. Who knows, they may even have a massive say in the destination of those pieces of silverware in May…