Celtic used 34 players over 61 matches. A Treble was secured so how did your favourite player contribute?
In total Celtic made 199 line up changes averaging 3.3 per game. This is an increase of 0.5 changes per game over last season and compared to the Deila era.
Champions League Qualifying
This kicked off on 14th July 2017. The transfer window was still open, and players had been on international duty before reporting for training in mid-June 2017 ahead of the first friendly on 28th June, a month after the Scottish Cup Final. A crucial set of games followed.
Who got Celtic in the Champion’s League Group Stage?

The qualify campaign was noticeable for the lack of striking options due to injury to both Griffiths (52% utilisation) and Dembele (21%).
Eight players played in every game but only four played every minute. Youngsters Ajer, Ralston and Benyu were called up for action to bolster the numbers.
Even more so in 2018/19 this is a mini “season within a season”.
Champion’s League Group Stages
These games are staggered mid-September to early December. This is where you need the top and experienced performers available.

Only two players (Gordon and Tierney) played every minute. Six players appeared in every game.
Again, neither of the primary strikers managed 50% utilisation.
Forrest, McGregor and Rogic, who have been the more creatively productive this season all managed just over 57% utilisation. The most prevalent attacker was Sinclair used 70% of the time. Did Celtic get enough game time out of the main attacking talent in those games?
Europa League Appearances
Whilst qualifying for the Champion’s League Group Stages is an achievement the performances and results were mixed to poor at best. Thankfully, a struggling Anderlecht team meant a safety net of Europe League knock out football.

Seven players played the full tie including the usual stalwarts Brown, Tierney and Lustig. Gordon was injured for those matches. The first leg was also the high-water mark for Musonda, providing an assist from his 36 minutes.
League Cup Appearances
The first trophy of the season was retained. Here are the players that did it.

Celtic used 23 players across only four ties. The rounds are spread from early August to late November and Celtic have tended to give game time to younger players in the initial round. All four opponents were Premier League standard however.
Once again Gordon, Tierney, Lustig and Brown top the charts although the former two were the only players to appear in all available minutes. In addition, only Griffiths, Forrest and McGregor appeared in all four ties.
Scottish Cup Appearances
Celtic are Scotland’s foremost winner of the Scottish Cup, and the trophy came back to Paradise thanks to the efforts of these Bhoys:

23 players were used across 5 ties. Despite getting lower league opposition in the first round, as this game is usually the initial match after the Winter break, the team line up tends to be strong.
Again, the competition is spread from January to May and so there will be a lack of continuity to selection. Only 7 players appeared in all 5 ties. Once more Tierney played every minute, but this time is joined by Ntcham as an ever present. Being a competition for the second half of the season Ajer has now established himself missing only the last 14 minutes of the Final.
Noticeably the team triumphed despite negligible time from creative talents Armstrong, Griffiths and Roberts. Despite Sinclair appearing in all 5 ties, he was only utilised 50% of the time – another indication of the nature of his season.
SPFL Appearances
The bread and butter and most important competition of the season. Seven in a row was secured by these Hoops:

Celtic’s league triumph was forged in Scotland with three academy Bhoys and one 10-year veteran all appearing in over 75% of the SPFL game time.
Brown appeared in every minute of the 34 games he started. McGregor appeared in the most matches – 36, with Forrest one game behind. Brown, Sinclair and Tierney were the only other players to appear in 30+ matches out of 38.
Only 10 players appeared in over 50% of the game time from 31 players used.
Some talent was largely absent with only 12.9 matches from Griffiths and 5.81 from Roberts. None of Armstrong, Rogic, Dembele, Simunovic or Edouard player over 18 matches.
There was heavy rotation around a Scottish core, which may help to explain often disjointed league form.
Overall Appearances
Five campaigns, 3 trophies won, 61 matches, 33 players, 5490 minutes of action. Here is the end of season numbers.
The Rock Stars
Always front and centre carrying the performances. They either appeared over 50 times in the season or completed over 40 matches worth of minutes.

The Chorus Line
These guys are crucial to the overall success of the group, but their contribution varies song to song. They have been utilised over 30% of the time and contributed over 20 matches worth of effort.

The Session Musicians
These guys’ performances are recorded for posterity but are not the contributions the public will remember. This lot played in over 10% of all the game time but made less than 20 overall appearances.

The Techs and Roadies
Always there in the background and occasionally will save the day. These fellows were utilised less than 10% of the time and recorded less than 500 minutes stage time. I don’t even have images for all of them!

The Wannabees
The following records the number of times players sat on the bench without getting onto the field:

Not surprisingly the goalkeeper De Vries leads by 26 sub “appearances”.
Ajer has largely been in the squad when available. There are young players that perhaps may see more game time next season including Kouassi, Miller and Ralston.
Whilst Simunovic and Bitton have provided defensive cover, Boyata usually plays if available, only staying on the bench once.
Noticeably absent is the captain and Tierney only stayed on the bench once.
The Forgotten
Finally, with 3.3 changes per match and 61 matches over nine months with very little break due to internationals and the extended club calendar, injuries played a big part in Celtic’s season.
Many managers won’t speak to injured players. It’s a cruel sport and it usually means opening the door of opportunity to others, McGregor and Forrest have become established first team players.
The absence table for the season is as follows:

The players who missed the most games were predominantly those sent out on loan. Although Sviatchenko and Ralston managed major injury and being sent on loan.
13 players missed more than 10 matches due to injury and 5 missed more than 20 games. 15 of the squad were unavailable over 20% of the time. In particular the wide and creative areas were badly hit with Hayes, Roberts abd Johnston having extended breaks.
Notable absences from the list are those were available for selection 100% of the time: Ajer, Ntcham, McGregor, Forrest (!!). Not surprisingly they are four of the most consistent performers. Also, only McGregor and Forrest appeared regularly last season and both only just managed over 50% utilisation – Forrest 56% and McGregor 52%.
Summary
A season of many changes and many injuries. With 61 matches on top of 59 last season, with a World Cup for four players and then Champions League Qualifiers starting in mid-July again, rest will be a luxury for much of the squad. Given the punishment Brown and Tierney in particular get, and given the fragility of Gordon, and aging of Lustig, the back-bone players will need careful managing.
Many of the Invincible top performers had highly disrupted seasons including Armstrong, Rogic, Roberts, Griffiths and Dembele. This season’s stand outs, Forrest and McGregor have benefited from injury free runs. Can that be maintained with the coming schedule? History suggests it is difficult to maintain 60 match seasons back to back.
The sports scientists need to be on top of their game.