Maverick trio and the shared talent that sets them apartpublished at 12:52 BST
Tino
Fan writer
There's something a wee bit different about Jota, Haissem Hassan and Camilo Duran.
They're three very different players, each with their own styles and strengths. But they share one quality Celtic have arguably lacked at crucial moments over the past year.
And that's the ability to make something happen when very little seems possible.
With all three now available to Martin O'Neill, Celtic's frontline suddenly looks far more dangerous, more unpredictable and definitely more entertaining.
Jota is the obvious starting point because we already know what he's capable of.
He can beat defenders, create chances, score goals and generally get supporters off their seats. Or in the case of Hearts defender Jordi Altena on Sunday, off their feet.
Jota's long-term injury deprived us of that quality last season, and while patience will still be required as he works towards full sharpness, he doesn't look a million miles away from that.
Even just having him back on the pitch these past couple of weeks has given everyone a lift.
Hassan brings something different. There's a directness and aggression to his game that's brilliant to watch. He attacks defenders relentlessly and at times simply ghosts past them like they aren't there.
His final ball needs a bit of work and improving on that will be important. But I'd far rather watch a winger continually ask questions of defenders than one content to play safe.
And then there's Duran, arguably the biggest maverick of the lot. There's a wonderful unpredictability about him. He drifts into unusual areas, attempts things other forwards might avoid and always looks capable of changing a game.
His beautifully clipped cross for Callum Osmand's second goal against Hearts, followed by his own instinctive first-time finish in the second half, are the latest reminders of that ability.
Of course, players like these often come with a trade-off. If you want creativity, spontaneity and moments of genuine brilliance then you have to accept that occasionally things won't work.
But that's part of the attraction.
None of this trio were available to Celtic last season, albeit for different reasons. Now Martin O'Neill has all three at his disposal - plus the likes of Osmand, Yang Hyun-jun, Kasper Hogh and Shim Mheuka.
Finding the right combinations, managing their minutes and maintaining consistency domestically and in Europe will be crucial.
And there's no guarantee everything will click immediately.
But after watching Celtic put seven past Hearts on Sunday, it's difficult not to get excited about the possibilities.
Football will always demand structure, discipline and organisation. And Celtic will need all of that as they navigate the challenges ahead.
But sometimes you also need somebody capable of doing something extraordinary, something special, when nobody sees it coming.
And Celtic now have three players who seem well capable of doing exactly that.
