Kelechi Iheanacho made the difference again for Celtic at Easter Road, coming off the bench to score the goal that secured a 2-1 win over Hibernian.
It was another moment that followed a pattern. Iheanacho has not started regularly, often due to fitness concerns, but when he has been used, he has found a way to impact games.
His current role reflects where things stand. He is used carefully, often introduced when the game needs a presence in the box rather than constant movement in behind.
Martin O’Neill has seen both sides of that in recent weeks.
He said: (TCW), “That’s for another day. I think that the fitness element is the most important thing, and I think you have to go and prove that you’re fit, and the only way to prove it is on the field of play.
“What he has done for us has been terrific, really terrific, particularly now, you’re looking at his overall contribution through injuries and stuff like this here, for a whole season, those are the things that I’m sure the football club would weigh up on as much as anything else.
“Although he keeps telling me he’s very, very young, time does catch up with players, although I think he’s only 29 or 30.
“If the club were to keep him, then it’s really to do with a proper pre-season for him, a real proper pre-season.
“I think he arrived at the last moment, didn’t he, here, so he would have to do it, and I think that he would benefit greatly from that there, where you’re getting three or four weeks’ work into him before the season started, which I think he needs, obviously.”
Iheanacho has shown he can decide games, especially in tight moments where space is limited.
The issue is how often he can do it. Without a full pre-season, he has been catching up, which explains why he has not been used from the start as often.
That affects how Celtic build their attack. With Daizen Maeda, the focus is on movement and pressing. With Iheanacho, it shifts to hold-up play and finishing inside the box.
Looking ahead, that balance will shape the decision. If he stays, it will be with the aim of building him up properly over the summer.
There are still games to play, and he could have more moments like Easter Road. Each one adds to the case, but the final call will come down to whether he can handle a full campaign.
