I could be sarcastic and claim my mockery of Adam Idah here last week inspired him to score twice against Aston Villa on Wednesday night in the Champions League.

But the only honest course of action is to be a big boy, own up to my own mistake and be as good as my word. I said Idah was a contender for the Brass Neck of the Season award for claiming ownership of the goal that beat Young Boys at Celtic Park 10 days ago. That much, at least, was accurate.

There were people waiting at bus stops outside of the ground that night who had as much of a claim on that goal as Adam did. But I said I'd take it all back if he scored at Villa Park – and Idah was outstanding in the execution of his two goals against Unai Emerey's side. And the place to take it all back is at the beginning of this column, rather than attempt to hide it away as an after-thought somewhere near the end.

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Being forced to choke on your own words occasionally is an occupational hazard in this business. I have always lived by the idea that I will move on from one failure to the next with no loss of enthusiasm.

Idah's direction of travel must be from one success to another at Motherwell on Sunday with no mention of Kyogo's name being used to compare the Irishman unfavourably to the Japanese. Because Motherwell are more important to Brendan Rodgers' team than this month’s clash with Bayern Munich.

The Champions League knockout stage is, for Celtic, about a glamorous farewell to the competition. An overdose of bravado will provoke supporters to condemn, and contradict, that opinion, but I cling to the old-fashioned ways and ask for realism to be presented in defence of my stance.

A mood shift has taken place, meanwhile, in the Premiership where the outcome of the title is concerned. If Celtic's double-digit lead at the top becomes single figures, we will have the makings of a grandstand finish on our hands because Rangers have started to emerge as a proper looking team. The time between now and the end of Celtic’s re-scheduled game at home against Dundee on Wednesday night is therefore fascinating.

Not least because the transfer window closes on Monday and Rodgers has a squad that is undeniably weaker than at the start of January. Jota’s signing was supposed to be the good news under which the bad news about Kyogo leaving to join Rennes could be buried. A public relations coup that would appeal to fans’ sentimental side.

In tandem with hopes for an emotional reunion with Kieran Tierney it was to be a double whammy to appease the fans. Given the outrageous difference between what Celtic got for Jota and Tierney and what they've paid to bring them back, it would win Celtic the Football Business of the Year award if one was being handed out by the Confederation of British Industry.

But it’s no longer as simple as that. Jota will, like the Celtic support, sit and watch Sunday's game at Fir Park and the meeting with Dundee because he is, by his own admission, in no fit state to play after having had minimal game time for the last 18 months.

Tierney's story is the rekindling of a love affair. Jota is in an arranged marriage. The Portuguese now has to prove himself all over again after trading the natural progression of his career for an alleged wage of £192,000 per week in the desert while not playing football in the Saudi Pro League.

To what extent will he be incentivised while probably being on about 20 per cent of that money at Celtic? And how long will it take before he can start matches to answer that question? Rodgers, at the moment, has no cover for Greg Taylor at left-back and his captain, Cameron Carter Vickers, now misses an alarming number of important matches through injury.

Stephen Welsh is out on loan in Belgium. Gustaf Lagerbielke is in the Netherlands. And when Dane Murray came on in defence for Celtic in the closing stages at Villa Park it was his first competitive appearance for the club in three-and-a-half years. But was still preferred to a presumably unwanted misfit, Maik Nawrocki, when the game was still in the balance at 3-2 in Villa's favour.

Yang? When does the pretence end regarding the South Korean?

Idah got his first goal in 14 matches, and another one, but has only scored in back-to-back games once this season.

Strength in depth anyone?

On Sunday, Celtic face a Well side with no manager, a mutinous support and denied the help of best player Lennon Miller through injury. It should be as routine a win for Celtic as they come. If not, you'll hear the sound of a window rattling in the east end of Glasgow – and it will have nothing to do with last weekend's storm damage at Celtic Park.