Hugh Keevins: Strange times and happy days

You know you're living in strange times when the striker who's just been voted France's Young Player of the Year can't be certain of a regular start at a Scottish club.

Moussa Dembele being kept out of Celtic's first team at the moment by Leigh Griffiths, who can't stop scoring goals but, at the same time, can't be sure of a regular game for Scotland while we're currently beneath Mali in the FIFA World rankings.

Go figure.

But how do you begin to suggest that Brendan Rodgers is going wrong somewhere when his team can go fourteen points clear at the top of the league if they beat the bottom club, Partick Thistle, at Celtic Park tomorrow night?

So one minute Dembele is worth £20m and the next he's a substitute. How do you question a manager who can do no wrong, domestically speaking?

One reason for Dembele's current situation could be his tender years and the havoc that can play with consistency levels when you're twenty years old.

Or it could be the natural consequence of a first half of the season which has brought a torrent of games that have taken their toll of players' stamina.

Rodgers slipped in a reference to Dundee having had a full week to prepare for for Saturday's game at Celtic Park when the manager did his post-match press conference at the weekend.

Brendan and his players have forgotten what it's like to have the luxury of preparation time due to their league, European and cup commitments.

Take six Champions League qualifiers and the same number of group stage games and there you have Celtic having played at least a dozen more matches than the sides they face in the Premiership.

And here they go again tomorrow night, seventy hours after their last game and four days before the one that follows the Jags.

Even the Celtic fans will be fed up looking at Partick Thistle, who played Rodgers' side at Firhill earlier in the month, and next Saturday's opponents, Hamilton Accies, who played the champions last week.

That's why Rangers will be doing Brendan a favour when the sides meet at Ibrox on New Year's Eve.

Mark Warburton's side will offer ferocious opposition in front of a febrile crowd and Rangers could possibly be in a position where they could be the first Scottish team to inflict a domestic defeat on the only undefeated side in the country.

It'll be an occasion to get the managerial juices flowing in a way that matches against Partick Thistle and the Accies never could.

Rodgers has never been to Ibrox, having been forbidden to attend Old Firm matches as a child, and he's unlikely to ever forget the experience once he has savoured the celebration of cultural differences which singles the occasion out as being unlike any other.

But Brendan will at least have had an un-interrupted week to prepare for the derby and it'll be interesting to see what kind of zip that puts into Celtic's game.

Likewise, Rangers will relish the opportunity to extend their present run of good form as their challengers for second place in the table, Aberdeen and Hearts, show premature signs of mal-function.

I think we can forget that one now and get on with any other competent business.

Celtic will finish top and Rangers will be second. It is the size of the gap between them that will now become the story.

And the January transfer window could offer evidence of which way the wind is blowing.

Celtic must have the funds available to to sign new players and Rodgers has certainly expressed a wish to do business.

Rangers are strapped for cash but must be mindful of the need to avoid standing still while their oldest rivals limber up for a fresh injection of personality.

Like I say, any squad that can't provide the guarantee of a first place for France's Young Player of the Year must be in good nick.

If you re-furbish that squad then the neighbours need to make an effort at their place.

Anyway, the speculation game will keep all of us interested while the Premiership goes into mid-Winter hibernation next month.

You can't have two whole weeks without arguing about something. That would be un-natural for the West of Scotland and run contrary to the way life works in the "Start a fight in an empty house" capital of the world.

Just wait until the SFA gets its way and Celtic and Rangers have colts teams playing in the lower leagues then you can have four teams to shout about. Happy days. Or, as Moussa would say, "Magnifique."