The Schmeichel decision is not decision at all for most Celtic fans.

Yesterday the Celtic manager spoke about the fitness situation ahead of the game at Ibrox. Two players are currently being monitored. One is Kieran Tierney. The other is Kasper Schmeichel. That apparently leaves the manager with a dilemma about his team selection.

However most Celtic supporters would say there is no real dilemma at all. Paradoxically, that is where the debate begins.

None of us coaches the Celtic first team. None of us picks the starting eleven. So none of us has any say in what the team will look like. Nevertheless, supporters will second guess the manager whatever he decides. That’s where the debate would be.

The Tierney situation feels fairly straightforward.

If Tierney is fully fit, he should start. Sarrachi has done little wrong and it would not break anyone’s heart if he was in the team. But Tierney’s influence on this team has been growing steadily for a while and he’s been crucial lately.

He’d get selected all day long. Ordinarily. However, if there is the slightest doubt about his fitness, the manager should not risk him. Turning a minor injury into a serious one would be reckless with so many important matches still to play.

The real decision concerns the goalkeeper. Does Kasper Schmeichel return if he is fit? Or does the jersey remain with Viljami Sinisalo, who has held the gloves for the last few weeks?

For me there is no real debate. It has to be the Finn.

Of course I am not the Celtic manager. If the manager chooses another option there is little any of us can do except complain afterwards. Nevertheless, Sinisalo has done everything asked of him. He has shown he deserves that jersey. In fact, he has shown he may currently be the best option we have between the sticks.

Ultimately the decision comes down to one simple principle. Selection should be based on form.

Schmeichel was not in good form before his injury. In contrast Sinisalo has stepped in and performed well. He has looked confident. He has handled the pressure. Most importantly he has produced solid performances when the team needed them.

Therefore, he should keep the jersey. Anything else would feel like sentimentalism. That kind of thinking should not influence decisions at a club like Celtic.

Naturally Schmeichel would not welcome being dropped. Football is a ruthless profession. Sometimes decisions are complex and painful. However, this situation is not particularly complicated. Schmeichel was struggling. Sinisalo is performing.

Where exactly is the dilemma?

People talk about the manager facing a difficult decision. In truth he faces a very straightforward one. Whether he chooses to treat it that way remains his call.

Few supporters would criticise the decision to keep Sinisalo in goal. Fans understand form. They respect players who earn their place in the team.

Goalkeepers live under a unique kind of pressure. A striker can miss chances and still redeem himself by scoring later. A goalkeeper rarely receives that luxury. When a keeper makes a mistake, the consequences are immediate and obvious.

However, this debate is not about one bad moment. It is not about a single mistake.

Schmeichel had been struggling for several weeks before his injury. That is why the conversation started in the first place. This is not a knee jerk reaction, even though football supporters are often guilty of those.

In truth his form had begun to affect the defenders in front of him.

When defenders start losing faith in their goalkeeper, the situation becomes far more serious than simple poor form. Confidence disappears quickly in those circumstances. Rebuilding it while the player remains in the team can be extremely difficult.

Managers must show a willingness to remove players from the starting eleven when performances drop.

We have seen the manager do exactly that elsewhere in the team.

The striker position has changed repeatedly this season because several players failed to deliver consistent results. Tony Ralston has also dropped out of the picture because stronger options now exist at right back.

The same principle has applied on the wings and in central midfield.

When players fail to perform, the manager has shown he is willing to make changes.

So why should the goalkeeper position be treated differently?

If a player is not performing and a capable replacement exists, the decision should be obvious. Right now, that replacement is already in the team.