Part of Celtic’s relative struggles has been their inability to find a consistent striking option.
Johnny Kenny – loaned to Bolton in January – is still their highest-scoring centre forward this season, with midfielder Benjamin Nygren leading the way.
Daizen Maeda has often been shifted inside off his preferred left flank and has struggled to replicate his form from previous campaigns.
Kelechi Iheanacho was signed on a free by former boss Brendan Rodgers, but has been unable to build up a head of steam because of injuries.
January arrivals Tomas Cvancara and Junior Adamu have failed to nail down a starting berth – Adamu has been substituted at half-time in both his league starts and has not been in the matchday squad for two of Celtic’s past three league games.
Cvancara was substituted at Dens Park last weekend, having missed a flurry of chances, and his replacement Iheanacho slammed in a dramatic late winner.
Manager Martin O’Neill has spoken more than once about how his team cannot afford many – if any – more slip-ups in their final six league matches, and he could do with some consistency in forward areas to achieve it.
The defending champions might have the easiest fixture of the top three on paper this weekend but St Mirren have won back-to-back games under interim manager Craig McLeish and are battling to avoid the dreaded relegation play-off. The two sides will meet again in next Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final.
It seems likely O’Neill will start Iheanacho after his impact off the bench against Dundee. How he and his club would love the Nigeria striker to go on a hot streak.