When Fraser Forster's move to Celtic was scuppered at the beginning of this season, Neil Lennon was furious.

Rightfully so. By all accounts the English goalkeeper had initially agreed another loan spell at Parkhead, only to change his mind and stay at Southampton to duke it out with Alex McCarthy for the gloves. The decision left a gutted Lennon in a tough spot because he desperately needed a goalkeeper. And a proven one considering the 10 in a row season was at stake.

Fast-forward a few weeks and the club splashed out big on Vasilis Barkas. A £5million purchase from AEK Athens, but all supporters had to go on was YouTube clips. He was a relative unknown and, on reputation alone, was never going to placate the fans who had expected Forster. Or those who had perhaps resigned to losing The Great Wall but were now eyeing up England goalie Joe Hart.

That Barkas has failed to settle this season so far is not a surprise. We're in a global pandemic, for goodness sake. He's without his family alongside him and it's not like he and the rest of the Celtic boys can spend any sort of time together away from the training pitch. It really has been home, to Lennoxtown and back home again. Maybe he'll get to Tesco. The fact of the matter is that Barkas' transition period has not been a typical one, and that must be remembered.

I can only imagine what it must be like receiving criticism every single week - in my job it's not THAT difficult to comprehend - only to then head home where there's no-one to vent to. Nobody to release that valve and chat to about where things may have gone wrong. So it's little surprise that Barkas has not played every single week at Celtic so far. 

READ MORE: Former Ayr Utd boss Mark Kerr hails Ross Doohan as future Celtic star

Lennon took him out the firing line and replaced him with Scott Bain, a firm pair of hands. But Bain himself has had a couple of dodgy moments this term. At times Lennon has picked rookie Conor Hazard who still has a lot to learn. That was made clear in the Scottish Cup final when he flapped at crosses which led to goals.

But the club have had another goalkeeper in their ranks who has been twiddling his thumbs since returning from a loan spell at Ross County. Ross Doohan, 22, is more experienced than Hazard. Far more experienced, actually. The Scotland under-21 goalie has played at international youth tournaments with the Tartan teens.

Doohan has also enjoyed loan spells in competitive environments. Men's football. The 6ft 1in goalkeeper worked with Jim Duffy at Greenock Morton and Ian McCall at Ayr United. Not a particularly forgiving duo with neither suffering fools gladly. A grounding which will have helped him learn what it takes to compete to win every weekend in the Championship, arguably the toughest of all Scottish leagues.

As an Honest Man, Doohan picked up young player of the year in his first season at Ayr and was desperately close to breaking the club's long-standing clean sheet record with 20 throughout the course of a season. He was pipped to the same award at the end of his second loan stint by Rangers kid Stephen Kelly. But he made 80 appearances in all competitions over two seasons, which is plenty of experience.

He was, this season, allowed to move to the Staggies on loan but that switch did not quite pan out the way he'd have wanted. Man of the match in a clash against Hibs was not enough for the Celtic youngster to keep his spot ahead of Ross Laidlaw. And the manager who brought him to Dingwall, Stuart Kettlewell, was then sacked. Not ideal for Doohan, of course, but Celtic's decision to recall him in January probably came at a good time.

It is believed that goalie coach Stevie Woods is a big fan of Doohan. Whispers around the club suggest that he's not too far away from being given an opportunity beyond the friendly matches and bounce games he's been involved with in the past. 

And it can come as no surprise to anyone who has watched Doohan perform. He deserves his chance.