As a cluttered December fixture list comes into sharp focus, Celtic need to ensure the sleeves remain rolled up.

Only the most churlish would have suggested they did not merit the three points they took from their encounter against Aberdeen given the dominance they enjoyed, albeit that Callum McGregor’s winner had a strong degree of fortitude about it.

Yet what was not difficult to escape was the prevailing feeling that Celtic struggle to break teams down at times at Celtic Park where teams so often camp in against them.

Points were dropped in two of the previous three home games before the win over Aberdeen with one of the most obvious issues the movement of Kyogo Furuhashi and the lack of awareness at times to synch with his runs.

The Japanese playmaker is in constant motion but too often his colleagues fail to get themselves onto the same wavelength.

Tom Rogic’s return could help to ease that issue with the Australian internationalist capable of both the vision and execution required to get the ball to Kyogo’s feet.

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He is not the only one whose return will boost Ange Postecoglou’s hand as he heads into a month that could be definitive for Celtic.

The League Cup final against Hibs presents the first opportunity of silverware, both for the season and for his own reign at the club.

But, crucially, it is the opportunity to ensure that Celtic go into the New Year game against Rangers in a position to exert some pressure on their Ibrox rivals.

The likes of Rogic getting up to speed quickly will be crucial in ensuring that Celtic emerge from a massive month in rude health while there is also the return of Carl Starfelt to offer other options at the back.

Christopher Jullien’s return appears to have been kicked down the track for the last month or so but certainly what is of note for Postecoglou is that his hand will get stronger as the season goes deeper.

But with a four-point gap still visible at the top of the table the pressure remains on. Celtic are well aware that they cannot afford to offer further encouragement with any self-inflicted slips.

Winning games remains secondary now to winning well and in that vein the win over Aberdeen suggested a mettle about Celtic that has not always been evident over the last 18 months.

Forcing the three points or winning them comfortably leads to the same end result where the league table is concerned. Financially Celtic have the funds to add in key areas in the January window but further ground cannot be conceded before then.