Related Links
In this tightest of SPL title races, Gordon Strachan's window shopping in the January sales may have tipped the Old Firm balance in Celtic's favour.
None of the five new arrivals started last Saturday's Scottish Cup tie at Kilmarnock but the squad strengthening exercise had the desired effect on the men in possession as they produced their most fluent and free-flowing football for months.
With former Manchester City striker Georgios Samaras waiting in the wings -- ahead of a hugely-impressive 25-minute cameo appearance as a second-half sub -- Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink showed long-awaited signs of recapturing his top form. The Dutchman scored the third of Celtic's five Rugby Park goals and could have scored more.
The lanky Samaras, whose first impact in Scotland was to clunk his head off the Motherwell front door as he bounded off the team bus, is serious competition for Vennegoor of Hesselink and even goal machine Scott McDonald whose weekend double took his season's tally to 21.
The signing of former Dundee United skipper Barry Robson has shaken the complacency out of any of the Celtic midfielders who might see themselves as an automatic choice. Robson plans to play, rather than make up the numbers, and he's had an instant reaction even without putting on the hoops.
German international right back Andreas Hinkel, out injured at the moment, is another inspired signing. There will soon be four players for that position with Mark Wilson and Joe Doumbe also on the road to recovery and 19 year old Paul Caddis looking a top prospect against Kilmarnock.
The other window acquisitions, Japanese midfielder Koki Miuno and former Middlesboro striker Ben Hutchinson, have been brought in with an eye to the future although they might not see it that way.
Celtic have been sluggish lately and scraping results. One game doesn't make a season but they look rejuvenated after Strachan's signing spree. The topping-up of his squad might just relaunch their title defence.