As it stands, are Celtic going into the Europa League knock-outs weaker than they were before January?

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Celtic have added a couple fresh faces but with injuries and players let go, are the club actually now in a worse position?

The January transfer window has been quite contrasting for the Old Firm clubs this year.

Graeme Murty’s Rangers have been buying players left, right and centre as they desperately try to bridge the gap between themselves and Celtic. So far the Gers have landed the likes of Jamie Murphy, Sean Goss, Russell Martin and Jason Cummings and do not look like they are finished yet.

Brendan Rodgers and Celtic have gone in the opposite direction. Two players have been brought in, in the form of centre-half Marvin Compper, 32, from RB Leipzig and 21-year-old Lewis Morgan from St Mirren, with the latter being sent back out on loan for the rest of the season immediately after signing.

But with Celtic’s upcoming Europa League round-of-32 tie against Roberto Mancini’s Zenit St Petersburg in mind, are Celtic actually currently weaker than they were before the winter break?

Compper is ineligible to play for the Celts against Zenit having already played for Leipzig in Europe this season. The German veteran was brought in to strengthen the club’s defensive options, however, Erik Svitachenko’s departure to FC Midtjylland on loan has essentially cancelled out the reinforcement.

Additionally, Bosnian centre-half Jozo Simunovic, 23, has been heavily linked with a move away, attracting interest from Leicester City, Burnley and Crystal Palace.

Should Simunovic also leave, Celtic’s defence will be one option short going into the tie.

This is all on top of the recent news that midfielder Stuart Armstrong will be out for a number of weeks following a shock hernia operation. It was confirmed by the club that the 25-year-old Scot will miss at least three or four games, with his return date set to be around the same time as the first leg against Zenit in Glasgow in mid-February.

It goes without saying that Celtic have the finest squad in Scotland. Rangers’ (some might say) desperation signings this January are an indication of the catch-up game the rest of the Scottish league are playing with the Bhoys, but either way, most would have expected Rodgers to bring in a few more fresh faces.

Making signings just for the sake of it has no proof of bringing success and all of Rodgers’ Celtic recruitment has felt extremely calculated. In fact, his transformation of existing Celtic players such as Armstrong, Callum McGregor and James Forrest have all felt as much like signings as Scott Sinclair and Moussa Dembele.

Nonetheless, with the squad evidently looking weaker than it was before the New Year, with Tom Rogic out injured and Patrick Roberts only just returning from rehab, the Bhoys should look to end the window strong ahead of the highly anticipated tie against Zenit next month.