THE LAST WORD with Joe Donnelly

TO echo the sentiments of Jeremie Frimpong in this week’s View (page 20), it feels like this latest batch of international fixtures have come at a frustrating time.

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Like our tireless right-sided player, I wish every one of the Hoops squad every success on the road as they jet off to represent their respective countries – but I’d have loved to have seen Celtic roll into another batch of high-profile games at club level following Sunday’s comprehensive 4-1 over Motherwell at Fir Park.

I was in the stands in North Lanarkshire on behalf of the magazine, and was delighted with the team’s performance in all areas of the pitch. Moi Elyounoussi rightly stole the headlines with a sublime hat-trick, but I was equally impressed with the increasingly confident Diego Laxalt, Frimpong himself, the ever-reliable Scott Brown and Callum McGregor in centre-midfield, and our very own Wizard of Oz, Tom Rogic.

During Sunday’s first-half especially, the Australian midfielder was unplayable as he effortlessly turned defence into attack, created space for his forward-facing peers, and dazzled with incredible close control and a mouth-watering first touch.