Kris Commons - Forgotten Glory

As Kris Commons' Celtic career comes to an end, we thought we'd take a look back at the highs and lows of one of the best Celtic players of the decade.

It may be hard for people to believe, but Kris Commons allegedly had a choice between Celtic and Rangers in January 2011 as he prepared to leave Derby County. Thankfully common sense prevailed and he signed for around £300,000. His impact was instantaneous, as after only five minutes of his debut in the league cup semi-final against Aberdeen, he scored with a deft cross shot.

He didn't look back after that goal, and cemented his reputation as a big game player with an equaliser against Rangers in the 2-2 draw in the Scottish Cup

and the sensational third goal in a 3-0 victory over Rangers at Celtic Park.

He ended the season with 14 goals in 21 games, a great return for a player who isn't a natural forward, and both he and the club looked forward to a renewed tilt at the title under Neil Lennon.

Unfortunately, he seemed to suffer from 'second season' syndrome, there were rumours of a falling out with Neil Lennon and he lost his place in the team due to a combination of injuries and suspension. Thankfully he was back towards the end of the season, and scored his only goal of the season with a cheeky finish against - you've guessed it - Rangers.

Thankfully Commons was back in form in 2012-13, and played a vital role in Celtic' successful Champions League campaign, as we reached the last 16. He got the campaign up and running with a fine goal vs Helsingborgs in the play-offs

and scored the penalty against Spartak Moscow which sealed our place in the last 16.

Domestically he was no slouch as usual and ended the season with 19 goals.

The following season, 2013-14, was undeniably Kris Commons' best at Celtic, a fact recognised with his winning of both the players and writers player of the year awards. He scored a vital goal against Karagandy in the Champions League play-offs

and scored hat-tricks vs Hearts and Kilmarnock.

He finished the season with 32 goals and was well worth all the plaudits given to him. That summer Neil Lennon departed Celtic and Ronny Deila took over, and Commons' Celtic career started to drift towards an end.

There had often been irritation with the Celtic fans with Commons, accusations that he was 'too greedy' etc. and they were to the fore as Celtic struggled under their new manager. Thankfully the team settled into a rhythm, and Commons was to the fore, with a goal against Rangers in the league cup semi final

and an acrobatic volley against Dundee United amongst the highlights.

He also scored in the league cup final win over Dundee United. He ended the season with 19 goals, still a reasonable return.

Sadly that was to be a last hurrah for Kris Commons at Celtic. Deila's second season started even worse than his first and Commons had a very public bust-up with assistant manager John Collins after he was substituted during an embarrassing defeat to Molde.

He later apologised but to all intents and purposes his Celtic career ended there and then. Interestingly, he was an unused sub for the penalty shoot-out defeat to Rangers in the Scottish Cup which ended Deila's time at Celtic. Would the guile and craft of Commons have helped averted defeat that day? Who can say...

This season, whilst Celtic have gone from strength to strength Commons hasn't featured at all, indeed his only football has come with four games on emergency loan at Hibs, where he teamed up with his old mate Neil Lennon and showed he hadn't lost his touch with two goals, including a wonder free-kick vs Falkirk.

Brendan Rogers is hopeful he will feature in one of Celtic's last four league games but as Commons is struggling with an injury he is unsure if this will be the case, if he does feature I hope he gets a great reception from the fans, never mind the bust-ups both real and imagined, Kris Commons was a fantastic player for Celtic, who won us many games and trophies and deserves to be remembered as one of the best Celtic players of the last ten years. Kris Commons - Thank You.