"I can't afford to waste time on anyone other than the ones who are here and committed to being here."

Ange Postecoglou's quotes at the weekend led to much speculation among fans about what, if any, involvement Odsonne Edouard and Ryan Christie would have against FC Midtjylland yesterday evening.

And if selected how pumped, or heavy, would their hearts be at starting another season with a club there's every chance they won't be representing come September?

Kris Ajer was already on his way out and passed a medical with Brentford earlier this week but moves for Edouard and Christie haven't materialised anywhere near as quickly and although more than a month is left of the transfer window they could be forgiven for being unsettled by the uncertainty over their futures.

Well, Edouard played pretty well last night. He should have scored during a one-on-one in the second half to put Celtic in the driving seat but apart from that can be happy with his performance. He didn't look distracted by the potential of injury affecting any prospects of a move to bigger and better things, which is often the concern highlighted when a player is seen to be downing tools or such. Comfortable pass marks for the Frenchman who was part of a cohesive unit on the night.

READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou: I haven't done a good job so far, Celtic will never be as underprepared again

Now, for Christie. A Forensic detective brought in to solve the case of Christie's contract situation wouldn't have found a trace of discontentment in the east end. Combing through Parkhead's grass at full-time last night, all they'd have found would've been blood, sweat and tears.

Granted, he'll have been disappointed not to score from close range when getting on the end of dangerous debutant Liel Abada's low cross, but he constantly impacted the game after taking the first 10 minutes or so to shift through his gears.

Christie's been a maligned figure at Celtic since the start of last season. He scored 21 goals before the preceding campaign was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic. A move seemed to be on the horizon and he wasn't the only one expecting it, Burnley were the rumoured club at the time, but it didn't materialise and he stayed on, underwhelmingly scoring six goals as Celtic crumpled in the heat of the battle with Rangers to win, or stop, 10. Christie in particular was regularly criticised for his persistent shooting from distance.

His suitors haven't disappeared, though.

If anything they've grown in numbers with French sides Nice and Monaco rumoured to be interested alongside Crystal Palace and Southampton with less than a year remaining on his Celtic deal. With a move to one of Europe's top leagues twinkling in Christie's night sky, it was feared if he was selected tonight there wouldn't be a similar twinkle in his eye.

READ MORE: Celtic player ratings for Champions League qualifier against FC Midtjylland

Yesterday evening he was more reminiscent of the Christie that shone in the huge, driving, goal-shaped void left by Stuart Armstrong in 2018. An attacking midfielder who will grab the game by the scruff of the neck and stamp their authority all over it. When Christie scored his double against Hearts in the League Cup semi-final in November 2018, leading to his improved contract, it kick-started his fruitful run in the side that lasted for around two years.

Constantly involved, creating, pressing, beating men, finding teammates... just the goal was missing last night. Mind you, it was his well-struck shot that led to Liel Abada's opening goal.

Truth be told, the Scotland international can count himself unfortunate not to have won man of the match. That accolade went to new captain Callum McGregor, whose performance probably contaminated the scene any detective would have been working on given he covered every blade of grass on it.

He, Christie and Stephen Welsh all shone on an evening that started with intense positivity and ended with optimism ahead of the return leg in Denmark next week. Last season, the season before and in every one before that, Midtjylland's equaliser would have sucked the life out of Celtic Park. There's an argument UEFA are sucking the life out of the game by removing the away goals rule but make no mistake, at 1-1, this Celtic team is alive and kicking in the tie.