There's a priceless line for the ages in the 1974 FA Cup final between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley when Kevin Keegan opens the scoring for Bill Shankly's men en route to a 3-0 win. Legendary BBC TV commentator David Coleman utters the words: "Goals pay the rent and Keegan does his share!" It's whimsical bordering on magical.

What has this got to do with Celtic, you ask? Brendan Rodgers may well be aware of Coleman's delightful words from 50 years ago, but the Irishman was channelling something concerning Nicolas Kuhn in the Rugby Park press room at the weekend.

The German winger had just produced another moment of magic to settle the issue in Ayrshire as Celtic ground out another vital Scottish Premiership victory. The 24-year-old took his tally to the season to an incredible 21 goal contributions in just 17 appearances. Yes, you read that right. 21?

At this juncture, Kuhn is a stick-on to sweep the boards in the annual Scottish Player of the Year awards. Rodgers was asked about his stunning return and if a better player was operating in Scotland at present. The 51-year-old said: "It's absolutely brilliant but that's his job. That's why the money's in his bank every month. He makes that contribution and he's been so good.

"There are lots of really good players in the country but I think I'm only focused on what he's doing for Celtic. He's doing so well."

The statistics don't lie. It's a phenomenal return from the wide man who cost Celtic £3 million from Rapid Vienna back in January He is averaging a goal contribution every 56 minutes. Quite simply Kuhn is on fire. After the Ross County game in Dingwall where Kuhn bagged a late winner in a 2-1 league win back in October, Rodgers said this: "He's been absolutely brilliant. I think his fitness, he's looking more robust now, which is important.

"He looks like a real threat for us. He's contributing in a big way. That's what you need your wingers to do. They need to create goals and score goals but also do the dirty side of the game and he's doing it well."

It represents a massive turnaround in fortunes for Kuhn whose early Celtic form was ropey to say the least but that was all explained away by the player himself as he suffered severe weight loss due to dental issues which led to him not being fully match fit. The snap judgements on the ability or lack of therein of the former Ajax and Bayern Munich prodigy were well wide of the mark.

Since the Manchester City game in the USA pre-season tour, Kuhn has hit the ground running. He has at times been unplayable. Kuhn is a special player with a special talent. The Celtic supporters love a winger. They are the born entertainers on the Celtic side. They have been used to seeing some outstanding winger since Rodgers's first spell at the club. Scott Sinclair, Paddy Roberts, James Forrest, Jota and Liel Abada take your pick. There's just something about a winger that gets bums off seats and excites everybody.

The comparisons have been coming thick and fast for Kuhn. One in particular keeps rearing its head. Kuhn is performing like a prime Arjen Robben. Make of that what you will. Whenever Kuhn picks up the ball and drops his shoulder and cuts inside there is an air of inevitability about it all. Just ask Ross County, Aberdeen, RB Leipzig, and Kilmarnock their thoughts on that. Former Dutch superstar Robben tortured many an opponent with his similar trademark moves.

Can Kuhn reach his next football milestone like Robben and represent his country at the international level? He is well on his way to achieving that stated aim according to his most fervent fan. Speaking exclusively to The Celtic Way, Rapid Vienna CEO Steffen Hofmann is adamant that Kuhn will earn a German cap one day after fulfilling his club destiny of playing and scoring in the Champions League.

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(Image: Craig Foy - SNS Group) Kuhn's stellar display and brace against RB Leipzig put the whole of European football on red alert as the on-time 'Wunderkind' announced himself once again on the biggest club stage of all. Hofmann said: "What can I say about Nic? He is lightning-quick, possesses electric pace, has great technique and he is a player who makes supporters want to come to a stadium and watch football.

"Nic is a player that can do things that other players cannot. That's what makes him special. He is a special talent. He has something that not many players have and that is the ability to dribble past opponents at speed coupled with an end product. Everybody is looking for that and he's got it in abundance. He seems to have got his rhythm and flow back with Celtic and when he is in that mood he is unstoppable.

"This is a player who will play for the German national team. It is not easy to get caps for Germany but Nic has something special that club teams as well as international teams are looking for. I am convinced he will represent his country one day. Nic always said he would play in the Champions League and he has managed that goal already with Celtic.

"His next ambition will be to gain international honours for the German national team and I believe he will achieve that."

If Kuhn does turn out for Germany then Celtic could well write their own cheque for. All interested parties should form an orderly queue and start the bidding at around the £40 million mark. Nobody will be 'Robben' Celtic blind for this generational football talent when his time comes to move on. What is it Rodgers said about Kuhn? "He looks like a real threat for us. He's contributing in a big way. That's what you need your wingers to do. They need to create goals and score goals but also do the dirty side of the game and he's doing it well."

If the truth be told, Rodgers could have easily inserted Kuhn's name instead of Keegan's into Coleman's famous 1974 FA Cup final quip as he spoke in the Kilmarnock press room. "Goals pay the rent and Kuhn does his share!"

You'll find that's exactly why the money is appearing in Kuhn's bank every month.