I was very impressed yesterday by the number of tributes paid to Victor Wanyama from across Celtic land, from former players and managers to supporters, after the announcement of his retirement. It is a great shame that a player who still seemed to have so much to offer the game has retired this early.

By modern standards, it is unusual.

He is one of my favourite Celtic players of the last 20 years.

Victor arrived as a raw youngster, and there was no immediate sign that he was going to become a first-team regular so quickly. But from almost his debut match, it was obvious that this was not someone brought in to sit on the bench.

He had everything the modern footballer could want. Physicality, athleticism, composure, and a very good sense of the game. He read it superbly. In a position where we badly needed reliability, he gave us exactly that.

I have always been sceptical of the so-called strategy, but when it has produced, it has really produced. Victor Wanyama was one of the genuine success stories. He was a player the club identified properly, recruited properly, and fitted into the side at exactly the right...