Celtic fans were left frustrated at the outcome of their side’s January transfer window as just two new arrivals came through the door at Parkhead.
Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah are now in the building, offering Brendan Rodgers some variety in the forward areas.
Nevertheless, the failure to bring a left-back to Glasgow’s east end has left the Hoops short in the position due to Greg Taylor’s recent injury woes.
Alexandro Bernabei is the only available option on the left-hand bracket of Rodgers’ defence with any quantifiable senior experience; however, his last two performances haven’t been up to the mark.
Last weekend, right-footed Anthony Ralston came off the bench to replace the Argentine on the opposite flank and struggled to offer an attacking threat due to playing in an unfamiliar role.
Despite speculation that Celtic would bolster numbers in the area, nobody arrived before the deadline amid previous links with the likes of Tiago Araujo, Owen Beck and Hugo Bueno.
The lack of suitable alternatives has since become an Achilles heel in the Bhoys’ hunt for the title, which is unlikely to subside until Scotland international Taylor returns to contention.
Hibernian await tomorrow at Easter Road and it is hard to make a case for either Bernabei or Ralston to start on the left, though Rodgers’ hand may be forced in that regard.