What a position to fill in, following in the footsteps of Jinky was never going to be easy but since those glory days there has been more than a few wingers that have brought excitement and entertainment to the party.
There has always been something magical about wearing the number seven shorts, being the player closest to the fans and charged with skinning your opponent.
In the good old days of the Jungle, with Celtic playing towards the Celtic End the winger literally seemed to get a lift from the backing he received from the fans.
Having the bravery and daring to take the hard knocks, commit defenders, was never easy but from Johny Doyle and Davie Provan through to Patrick Roberts there has almost always been a place for an entertainer.
Football fashions and fads come and go but the joy of a winger has an endearing magic all of it’s own. We’ll never see another Jimmy Johnstone but that doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate the efforts that others have put in following in the footsteps of the man who was voted The Greatest Ever Celt.
DAVIE PROVAN
Was the first major signing of Billy McNeill’s first stint in charge and was worth every penny of his £125,000 fee.
Provan took to Celtic instantly and ended the season playing his part in the 4-2 match.
Supported by Danny McGrain he provided a constant source of chances to the strikers with his relationship with Charlie Nicholas and Frank McGarvey highly prolific. Illness brought his career to a sad halt but not before he signed off with a spectacular free kick in the 1985 Scottish Cup Final.
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DIDIER AGATHE
More of a wing-back than a winger the £50,000 signing from Hibs repaid his transfer fee a few times over.
Within two years of being given a chance at Raith Rovers he was a key part of a Celtic treble winning squad.
His pace was electric and appreciated by Henrik Larsson who converted more than his share of assists from the man that came over from the Reunion Isles.
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JOHN DOYLE
Had an up and down Celtic career after signing for a £90,000 fee from Ayr United in 1975.
Adapting to life playing for your heroes can’t be straightforward but he adapted and played a big part in the title wins of 76/7 and 78/9.
The 1980 Scottish Cup win however was all about Doyle, none more so than a dramatic replay victory over St Mirren at Love Street with Doyle playing like a man possessed.
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PAUL WILSON
Was one of the older members of the Quality Street Gang who had a much under valued Celtic career.
As a winger or played as a striker he created plenty of problems for opponents and had an eye for goal that delivered 23 goals in the 74/75 season- more than Dixie Deans or Kenny Dalglish.
He loved nothing more than to turn it on against Rangers (IL), scoring twice in the 1975 Glasgow Cup Final as the new post McNeill era began at Celtic.
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JOE MILLER
When he signed from Aberdeen in the autumn of 1987 everything suddenly fitted together in Billy McNeill’s team.
Chris Morris linked up naturally with the east end bhoy who formed an instant understanding with Frank McAvennie and Andy Walker.
Despite his skills on the wing there was always a feeling that he’d be best used as a striker with the only goal of the 1989 Scottish Cup Final proving that theory. Despite that goal he was rarely used again through the middle as the bleak years set in.
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