Celtic manager Tony Mowbray insists Marc-Antoine Fortune is still top of his list of strikers.
Fortune has scored eight goals in 23 games since his £3.8million move from French club Nancy in the summer, but was left out of the Active Nation Scottish Cup fifth-round win over Dunfermline on Sunday as new signings Robbie Keane, Morten Rasmussen and Diomansy Kamara all got on the scoresheet in the 4-2 win.
Ahead of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Hearts at Parkhead on Wednesday, where Celtic hope to close the 10-point gap enjoyed by Rangers at the top of the table, Mowbray said Fortune is still very much in his plans.
"Marc is at the front of the queue as far as I'm concerned," Mowbray said. "His performances over the last six weeks have been outstanding.
"Everybody prejudged him on his role but I always judged him over performance over 90 minutes, week in, week out.
"Both have had a lot of minutes on the football pitch and sometimes you want to change it about and freshen it up and so you utilise options if you've got them."
A few storys from the weekend --- also match review from the cup game
Celtic recovered from a 2-1 deficit to overpower Dunfermline at East End Park and progress to the quarter-finals of the Active Nation Scottish Cup.
Diomansy Kamara blasted the visitors into the lead in 20 minutes, yet a minute later David Graham side-footed Nick Phinn's cross past Artur Boruc.
Andy Kirk then put the Pars ahead from a penalty conceded by Paul Caddis.
Morten Rasmussen stabbed a leveller and Calum Woods put through his own net, then Robbie Keane scored from the spot.
Celtic had most of the early play, pressurising Pars goalkeeper Greg Fleming with high balls into the box.
But for every attack down the right by Caddis, in for the injured Andreas Hinkel, the home side held firm and themselves looked in the mood for the fifth-round tie.
Jim McIntyre's team tackled aggressively in midfield, with Phinn and Willie Gibson giving Kamara and co little time on the ball.
Occasionally they worked their way towards Kirk up front but the support was sporadic.
Keane started the match on the bench, one of seven changes made by Tony Mowbray after the midweek defeat by Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premier League.
Like Hinkel, Jos Hooiveld missed the match through injury so Edson Braafheid, on loan from Bayern Munich, made his debut.
Celtic's pressure paid off in the 20th minute. First Georgios Samaras's(pic not from match)shot on the turn in a crowded penalty area rebounded off the crossbar and amidst the frantic scenes the Greek had a second effort blocked by Neil McGregor.
The ball eventually fell for Kamara, who rifled an unstoppable shot into the top right-hand corner of the net, with Fleming rooted to the spot.
As the visiting fans celebrated, their unease at recent performances surely easing, Dunfermline hit back.
A long ball down the right was chased and controlled by Phinn, who nutmegged Josh Thompson too easily at the corner flag, ran towards goal and his low cross found Graham, who nicked in front of Caddis to deftly side-foot past the exposed Boruc.
Boosted by that, the Pars pushed forward and won a penalty when full-back Caddis nudged Steven Bell off the ball at the far post as Calum Woods' cross looped over the central defensive pairing of Glenn Loovens and Thompson.
Kirk sent Boruc the wrong way for his 15th goal of the season and in doing so placed further doubts in Celtic minds.
Celtic drew breath and with three minutes to half-time they levelled.
Braafheid's clipped cross from the left was headed sharply towards goal by Brown and in an untidy scramble which produced a save by Fleming, Rasmussen's persistence and poacher's eye meant he was in the right place to prod the ball over the line.
Gibson produced the first chance of the second period, shooting powerfully at the Celtic goal but finding Boruc well placed to make the save.
Fleming denied Keane, on for Marc Crosas at half-time, and Rasmussen in rapid succession 55 minutes.
In the following minutes, Keane teased a battery of Dunfermline defenders inside the box before poking an effort at goal, then found himself one on one with Fleming.
Yet again the goalie saved well, but when the ball cannoned out to the touchline it was Kamara who collected and swept a cross into the six-yard box.
While Dowie and Woods were caught in two minds about how to deal with Kamara's delivery, Rasmussen slid in towards goal and Woods, under severe pressure knocked the ball into his own net from two yards out.
Keane was brought down in the box by Austin McCann, who got both ball and man, as the Irish striker inspired swifter and more imaginative attacks by Mowbray's side.
Taking his time to compose himself, Keane rolled the ball home for his first goal in Celtic colours and he celebrated in trademark style before his adoring travelling support.
Dunfermline manager Jim McIntyre sent on Joe Cardle for Phinn, while Zheng Zhi took the place of Caddis, then Kirk made way for Graeme Holmes as McIntyre tried to re-ignite his team's play.
And Cardle came close in the final minutes of the match, sending a lob over Boruc's head but just wide of the far post.
Mowbray was happy to see Celtic beat Dunfermline at East End park--
Celtic manager Tony Mowbray expressed relief after his side came from behind to beat Dunfermline and progress to the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup.
"There was some good and bad from us," Mowbray told BBC Scotland after the 4-2 victory at East End Park.
"At times today we looked very good and in total control and able to score at will. But at other times we let our standards slip slightly.
"I hope Celtic supporters can see what we're trying to build here."
Celtic took the lead through Diomansy Kamara but quickly found themselves 2-1 down following goals from David Graham and Andy Kirk.
Morten Rasmussen equalised just before half-time and the visitors improved after the break following the introduction of Robbie Keane.
Keane scored from the spot and Calum Woods's own goal ensured Celtic progressed to the quarter-finals.
"A lot of people seem to think there's a magic wand, you bring players in and everything just clicks into place," said Mowbray.
"But the signs are there. When we're in possession of the ball and going forward then I think this team can be exciting.
"We've still got work to do at the other end of the pitch. We missed Jos Hooiveld today, who has brought some composure to our backline.
"Today we had a young 18-year-old at centre-half and we did try to strengthen that area during the transfer window.
"It didn't quite happen for us but we will get there. I'm sure the people who make the key decisions at this football club can see things developing."
Robbie Keane scored his first goal for Celtic in the win over the Pars--
Mowbray was delighted with the impact on-loan striker Keane made when he came on at the start of the second half.
"Robbie has genuine class and if you can add class to a hard-working, talented football team and a little bit of magic then it can be the difference," he said.
"Robbie ignited that today; it's his cleverness and movement that creates space for the players to do the damage.
"I'm disappointed with the nature of the goals we conceded but it's about getting through and we managed to do that.
"I understand the hysteria surrounding a defeat but what I try to do is build football clubs from a position of strength."
Mowbray wanted me to stay--
Striker Scott McDonald has insisted he did not fall out with Celtic boss Tony Mowbray to hasten his move to Middlesbrough.
Australia international McDonald, who this week joined the Teessiders in a deal understood to be worth around £3.2million, took the difficult decision to head south of the border in an effort to keep his World Cup dreams alive.
"I wasn't too happy with not playing as regularly as I would have liked," McDonald said. "There was no fall out between me and the manager. They wanted me to stay at the football club but I felt I needed to get more game time. With the World Cup at stake at the end of the season, that was a massive factor also."
He added: "I had worked under [Gordon Strachan] beforehand and I believe I played my best football under him so it was another chance to team up with him and Garry Pendrey and try to progress even more as a player and keep getting better and better."
Keane Long way to go in title race--
Robbie Keane insists there is no reason why Celtic cannot peg back rivals Rangers and win the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.
The on-loan Tottenham striker's debut was wrecked when the Hoops suffered defeat at Kilmarnock on Tuesday which allowed Rangers' 10-point advantage to remain intact. Walter Smith's men are now favourites to retain the championship but Keane claims the title race is far from over.
He told the Scottish Daily Express: "There's no reason why we can't have a chance. I need a few games and we need to put a run together. There's every chance because there's a long way to go."
He added: "It was disappointing not to win at Kilmarnock. We were the better team and had a few chances but it was not to be.
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