Celtic arguably put in their most complete performance of the season yesterday, in what was an impressive 3-0 home win over Hearts.

In most other instances, the ‘Star Man’ would be the player who got the most goals in the game, especially if they scored more than one in the contest. Kyogo Furuhashi – despite scoring two great goals to put the side 2-0 up at the time – will fall just short of this accolade, as there was one player who shone even brighter than the Japan forward. James Forrest, Reo Hatate and Joe Hart round off the names of other potential nominees for this award, but it was Matt O’Riley who took the crown this week.

I posted on X that this may have been the midfielder’s best game in a Celtic shirt and didn’t receive any blowback from such a claim. I think that goes to show you how impressive the player was yesterday afternoon. A monstrous performance from the middle of the park, the Denmark international ran the show from start to finish, as he kept on showing for the ball and looked to make things happen. Yes, he got on the scoresheet – deservedly so – through means of the penalty spot, but the imposing midfielder’s performance was so much more than that.

Fresh off the back of his PFA Player of the Year nomination – as voted by his fellow professionals – the 23-year-old looked keen to display why he was worthy of that lofty recognition on Saturday afternoon. He would play a massive role in the lead-up to the second goal of the afternoon, as his cross-ball would expertly find Kyogo in the box for the striker to stroke home. Not unlike that of a quarterback in American Football – eat your heart out, Tom Brady - the delivery was bang on the money, with his teammate only too willing to apply the killer touch past Zander Clark in the Hearts goal.

READ MORE: Player Ratings: Magic Matt puts on a spellbinding show as deadly Kyogo returns

His penalty was a touch of class, too, as he administered the shortest of run-ups before smashing the ball into Clark’s left-hand corner, leaving the Scotland international bamboozled as he opted to go the opposite way. One may argue that he should have been the designated penalty-kick taker all this time, given Celtic's issues with converting from the spot during this campaign.

A mixture of passing, crossing and off-the-ball running mixed with pressing, O’Riley put in a flawless performance, which a packed Celtic Park appreciated greatly. In truth, no one is naïve enough to suggest that the talented middle-man is going to be at the club for the remainder of his career – his potential is far too high for that. What is clear, however, is that O’Riley will continue to plunder on for however long his stay at Celtic is, whether that is the next four games or into next season, too.

A class act off the pitch as well as on it, Celtic’s best outfield player this campaign showed yet again why he is one of Europe’s hottest prospects, ahead of a potential breakout at the European Championship this summer. That contract extension back in September seems more and more ingenious as the months and games roll by, as his price tag will no doubt be increasing with every good performance he achieves at the club.

All in all, a brilliant performance from a player who seems to have the world at his feet presently. With a potential title decider versus Rangers up next, you would not bet against the player turning in a similar performance, as he has previous against Celtic’s next opponents. One more push is required in order for O’Riley to pick up his third league title in as many seasons with Brendan Rodgers’ side. My money’s on the Dane to be great in six days’ time.