Celtic have better squad than Rangers but there's something seriously different to 5 years ago

It's one man but a massive hole. Callum McGregor being stuck on the sidelines doesn’t just leave a jersey to be filled in the team.

Alan Stubbs reckons losing the skipper for this weekend’s Scottish Cup clash with Livingston has created a huge void and it’s led to a big question for the former Celtic defender. Where are the other leaders in this Brendan Rodgers team?

Stubbs knows one when he sees one. During his five years at the club it was the land of the giants – and not just in stature. Paul Lambert, Craig Burley, and Henrik Larsson during his early days. Then it was Chris Sutton, Neil Lennon, Alan Thompson, John Barton, Johan Mjallby, the list goes on, and on. But now? Stubbs is struggling to see the characters in this current Celtic side who are prepared to lead from the front. McGregor is the main one of them – but he reckons there are only a couple more.

And it will be up to some of the others in the side to step up this weekend with their captain on the treatment table. Stubbs said: "When you look at Celtic over the last number of players they have had big game players. Callum McGregor is the leader in that pack. There are one or two others then I'm struggling.

"You look at a Celtic team from five years ago and you say there is a lot of leaders in there. This is where when you haven't got Callum McGregor there who for me is head and shoulders above anybody in terms of being a leader then that creates a big void.

“Celtic then have to ask who is going to step up to the plate. I think Celtic have got three players who are Celtic class. The rest I am thinking are okay. I think that's where Celtic have fallen short in not driving forward.”

It doesn’t take Stubbs long to list who he does see as the driving forces in