Last season it looked as though Celtic’s midfield was firmly locked in place with three players as Ange Postecoglou had a specific group of trusted lieutenants in that area of the pitch.

Captain Callum McGregor would often partner the likes of Reo Hatate and Matt O’Riley, with a dose of David Turnbull thrown in for good measure.

It was a central trio who had a bit of everything. McGregor is the glue that binds things together, Hatate the offensive weapon and O’Riley the young energetic presence capable of operating close to both boxes.

Yet, as the Hoops gear up for a Hampden Park showdown with Rangers in the League Cup final on Sunday afternoon, it is likely one will miss out, but who I hear you ask?

Well, if the manager follows a seasonal trend then it begins to become rather obvious; that of O’Riley.

Is Mooy available in the League Cup final?

If the Denmark U21 international does sit out this afternoon then it’s because Aaron Mooy is back in the squad.

The Australian missed the win over Aberdeen last time out due to a knock but Postecoglou was optimistic about his chances a few days ago, suggesting the Australia international was expected to train in the run-up to this latest Old Firm battle.

If Mooy is fit, then he simply has to play on recent form, with the 32-year-old having “silenced” the critics in the words of Charlie Nicholas.

The World Cup star arrived last summer and initially looked as though he would become more of a James McCarthy than a Hatate.

Having not played for several months, the former Premier League midfielder took a while to get up to speed with Nicholas admitting that ‘he slowed the pace down’ in his opening weeks in Glasgow.

For a Postecoglou side that relies on a relentless press and heavy-metal attack, the worries were justified.

This was a player towards the end of his career but the 5 foot 9 Aussie is enjoying what could be described as an Indian summer in his new home.

With O’Riley looking ‘off the boil’ – as per Tony Haggerty – Mooy has become the go-to man in the middle of the park with six goals and seven assists this term.

The experienced 57-cap professional has very quickly become a ‘massive player’ for the Bhoys – in the words of Nicholas – one who now has seven goal involvements since the World Cup alone, having returned from Qatar like a man possessed.

O’Riley, on the other hand, has been much quieter with just four involvements (one goal and three assists) since the action resumed in December.

On that evidence, there should only be one man in mind and against Rangers of all sides, Mooy’s ability to dictate play, offer an attacking threat and provide a huge amount of experience could prove key in a game of such magnitude.

Indeed, he could well be the difference between both sides as his Australian counterpart aims to win a third trophy since taking over the reins in Paradise.