Lets face it Lee Naylor has struggled to find the form that put him in contention for a player of the year award in his first season, in which his marauding runs and early driven crosses made the player look like a real find.
However after a couple of seasons blighted by injury and a severe loss of form Naylor has lost the confidence of the support. This was a major issue during Gordon Strachan's tenure with many fans pointing to the fact that there was no competition for places at the left hand side as a catalyst for a lot of the unrest that Strachan endured.
Now this has been dealt with following the arrival of the young English Left Back, who nearly never made it to the game yesterday due to a problem at Luton Airport
"It was a bit of a rush for him," Mowbray said. "It was important to get over the initial thing about playing with your team-mates for the first time.
"We lack a little bit of competition on the left. We're playing Shaun (Maloney) at the moment and Danny brings versatility.
"Lee has no competition. I thought the team needs balance and he brings that. He's got a wand of a left foot."
He certainly has. After making his debut on the left side of midfield yesterday he showed his ability with some fine pinpoint passing. Mowbray, ever the motivator was quick to add a positive spin to the team situation by acknowledging the lack of confidence in Naylor and then pointing out that the competition leads to a win-win situation for both Celtic and the weasel.
"I'm aware of negativity towards Lee from certain elements," he said. "Common sense suggests it will be a very good year for him because if he allows his contract to run out he will want suitors from good sides."
After the team disposed of Al Ahy 5-0 boss Mowbray had this to say.
"We got out of it what we wanted," Mowbray said. "We worked hard and it was a case of giving some players more time on the pitch. "The clean sheet was the biggest positive."
Mowbray reserved some extra praise for the perennially under fire Artur Boruc.
"Artur is one of those boys with people telling me he's this or that," Mowbray said. "But since I've been here he's been sensational.
"He's a remarkable goalkeeper, a real personality and I'm delighted he's here. Every good team needs a good goalkeeper."
And every team also needs a good manager.
Yours in Celtic
Clydebuilt