Carl Starfelt is a Celtic giant and bombscare branding suggests long term memory complex - Chris Sutton

Carl Starfelt rose like the price of housing to produce yet another superb headed clearance in the final seconds to get Celtic over the line last weekend at Hampden in the Cup semi-final.

Supporters and pundits were waxing lyrical about the bravery and brilliance of Cameron Carter-Vickers and rightly so. Make no mistake, were it not for the brilliance of Reo Hatate, the American would be my Player of the Year in Scotland. For all the headlines and the magic produced by the attacking players, Carter-Vickers is huge and has a presence that makes him priceless for the team.

But I can’t help thinking he is complemented brilliantly by his partner who never gets the same recognition when it comes to assessing the champions-elect. Starfelt is an absolute giant in Ange Postecoglou’s backline and due a whole load more credit than he gets from outside that dressing room. The Swedish international is every bit as important to Celtic’s defence as Carter-Vickers and it’s like people have a long-term memory complex.

I’m fully aware Starfelt walked off a plane on to the pitch at Tynecastle for a debut on the opening day of last season and was all over the shop as Josh Ginnelly ran past him at the edge of the box to set-up a goal for Hearts pal Gary Mackay-Steven. That was a forgettable first moment in the shirt, yet it’s like he’s been branded by some from that moment onwards.

Starfelt has made one or two other mistakes, of course he has. But so has everyone else. Kyogo Furuhashi has 49 goals for the club but he’s missed some golden chances. So has Daizen Maeda. So has Jota.

Even Carter-Vickers makes them, such as when he was late on Cammy Devlin to give away a penalty against Hearts when Celtic were there on Premiership duty in