Celtic head into the international break exactly where they expected to be: firmly in control of the Scottish Premiership.
The early signs suggest that Brendan Rodgers’ return has set the stage for another dominant campaign, despite initial concerns that the team might struggle to pick up where Ange Postecoglou left off.
Last season may not have been the smoothest of starts, but it still ended with Celtic clinching the title and securing a dramatic last-minute Scottish Cup final victory over Rangers.
In the present day, Celtic have once again outclassed their city rivals, reinforcing the growing gulf in quality between the two sides, even if Graeme Souness seems to think otherwise.
The post-match discussions have largely focused on how Celtic are pulling further away from Rangers, leaving little doubt about their superiority in Scottish football.
Amidst the talk of Celtic’s dominance, it might have been easy to overlook a significant milestone for one of the club’s most loyal servants.
James Forrest, the 33-year-old winger, made his 500th appearance for the club when he came off the bench in yet another Glasgow derby victory.
Forrest, a player who has spent his entire career at Celtic, is on the brink of becoming the club’s most decorated player in terms of trophies won. Currently sitting on 24 honours, he needs just two more winner’s medals to surpass the legendary Bobby Lennox.
Despite his remarkable achievements, there is a sense that Forrest hasn’t always received the recognition he deserves.
Chris Sutton, speaking after the match, suggested that Forrest remains “under-appreciated” at Parkhead, despite his long list of accolades. Fellow pundit Neil McCann echoed these sentiments, describing Forrest’s 500 appearances as “something very, very special.”
“It’s quite unbelievable, isn’t it,” McCann said on Sky Sports Football.
“He came through the academy. He has had such an impact on this football club. 500 appearances is something very, very special.”
Sutton added, “I have always felt that James Forrest is slightly under-appreciated.”
As Celtic continue to build momentum, the prospect of more silverware seems almost inevitable. With a five-point lead over Rangers already established in September, the gap between the two Glasgow giants looks set to widen even further.
If last season is anything to go by, when Celtic were far from their best yet still managed to secure two trophies, Rodgers appears more than capable of leading his team to another sweep of domestic honours.
Rodgers, in his second stint at the helm, has already shown that he has the measure of Rangers and the rest of Scotland. If Celtic can maintain their current form, it’s hard to see anyone preventing them from adding to their trophy cabinet this season.
With Forrest on the cusp of breaking records and the team in full stride, Celtic’s dominance in Scottish football looks set to continue unabated.