Celtic’s season is near unexplainable. How can a side who have dominated for nine straight years suddenly look so distinctly average?

Their form heading into a clash with St Johnstone on Sunday afternoon was disastrous, winning just two of their last 11 games.

For Neil Lennon, it was a must-win game. If he wanted to keep his job then he simply had to get his players fired up this weekend.

They have shipped 12 goals in their last three Europa League outings and ten strikes in their last three in all competitions prior to Sunday.

If you are looking for any explanation, then you can put Celtic’s disastrous run down to a torrid backline. Clearly, Lennon’s coaching is not up to scratch and thus, his future has been called into question.

He received the backing of the board two weeks ago after a 2-2 draw with Hibernian but that hasn’t stopped various managers from being linked with his job. Last week, former Everton boss Marco Silva was touted as a replacement, albeit one they would have to push the boat out for financially.

Would it be worth it? Well, his defensive record with Everton wasn’t the best. They shipped 89 goals during the 60 matches the Portuguese was in charge so that’s not a great start.

However, there are positives and they all link back to Brendan Rodgers, someone who was in a similar boat when he joined Celtic. Sacked by a Merseyside club in Liverpool, the Northern Irishman needed to rediscover himself. Coincidentally, Silva also needs to get his swagger back after a torrid time in Merseyside.

Yet, there are closer links – a relationship with Jose Mourinho. Rodgers, of course, was the great manager’s assistant at Chelsea and has learnt a great deal from the Portuguese.

Silva, meanwhile, has been dubbed the mini Mourinho due to his fortunes at a young age on the continent.

He won the Segunda Liga with Estoril and then lifted the Taca de Portugal with Sporting Lison. Following that, the 43-year-old won the league with Olympiacos in Greece. He then impressed at Hull and Watford before his failed spell with Everton.

Like Rodgers, Silva is a progressive coach, one that interprets modern ideas and quick football. The performances at Celtic right now are rather stale so perhaps bringing in a youthful coach with a point to prove – as they did with Rodgers – would be fruitful.

It would be a gamble from CEO Peter Lawwell but it might just rescue their short-term future.

In other news, Celtic are on the verge of a HUGE mistake with Dembele...