THERE was an unlikely new chorus in the Celtic supporters’ songbook on Saturday lunchtime. In fact, you could call it was the most surprising lyric to the theme of the White Stripes’ One Nation Army heard since the strains of ‘Oh Jeremy Corbyn’ sprung up around Glastonbury last year. Ten days away from celebrating his second anniversary as a Parkhead first team player, Cristian Gamboa heard his name sung for the first time.

Not that the hero worship wasn’t merited. Two of the 29-year-old’s instinctive thrusts down the right and instant deliveries had effectively decided the outcome of their Betfred Cup last 16 tie against Partick Thistle, leading to clinching late goals from Moussa Dembele and Tom Rogic. As the early season gloom around Parkhead started to lift a little, this was a special moment for the Costa Rican international, not least because his wife Melissa and sons Felipe and Julian were in the West End of Glasgow for the occasion.

“I’ve been two years at the club and they hadn’t sung my name so today was really special especially as my family were here,” said Gamboa, whose starring role came after Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo had levelled Leigh Griffiths’ opener, a goal which happened to be the little striker’s 99th for the Parkhead cub. “I’ve been in the shadows, working hard, trying to get a chance. Today, myself and my family got something back.

“My family and kids always helped me,” he added. “Sometimes, of course, you want more game time but I always had the target of going to the World Cup and getting whatever game time here the manager wanted to give me. Now I’ve got to keep going.”

Gamboa is one of these strange characters who find it far easier to get a game for their country than it is for their club side. He played ten times in all for Costa Rica last season, culminating in three World Cup starts, but only on the strength of a grand total of three Celtic showings. While he did a diligent enough job against Neymar for Costa Rica to be drawing 0-0 with Brazil when he came off after 75 minutes, one of the chances given by Brendan Rodgers came in the forbidding environs of the Allianz Arena.

But suddenly, he might just have played his way into the box seat for Thursday’s Europa League play-off tie with Suduva on Thursday night. While Rodgers is not prone to kneejerk reactions on players, there were signs against AEK Athens last Thursday that the normally consistent Mikael Lustig could do with being taken out of the firing line. While right back is a position Celtic have been keen to strengthen this summer, for now Gamboa is providing a bit of freshness and attacking energy, even if the rangy Mbuyi--Mutombo got the better of him defensively on at least one occasion. With Emilio Izaguirre playing as if he had never been away on the other flank, watching Celtic on Saturday was a bit like being transported back in a time machine.

Having watched from the stands as Celtic completed their double treble – a spectating position which Gamboa has grown accustomed to – the player spoke afterwards about having a ‘big decision’ to make on his future as he entered the final year of his contract. That still stands but having outstripped last season’s appearance tally already, he is hardly agitating for a move away.

“It’s been difficult but, like I always say, you need to be ready at this club,” he said. “You can never complain. There’s always someone at your back putting pressure on you. Last season was difficult for me but this season I feel like I’m doing the right things. Hopefully I can build on this game.

“I respect every decision,” he added. “I’m never going to say anything. It’s not my personality. My mother has always told me you always need to be loyal. I just need to keep going. If he [Rodgers] decides [to play him against Suduva] in the next game, I’m going to be ready. If not, I’m going to be waiting.”

The patient self-sacrifice of Gamboa could be said to be the counterpoint of the Dedryck Boyata affair, although the refusenik central defender will be welcomed back into the first team fold today - subject to admitting the error of his ways to his staff and team-mates. As for Partick Thistle, their winless run against Celtic still stretches back to 1994, but there was plenty to hearten manager Alan Archibald. Not least the substitute showing of 17-year-old Aidan Fitzpatrick, whose energy and technique got him an assist for the Thistle goal.

“He really is a star in the marking,” said Thistle striker Kris Doolan, “as exciting a young player as I’ve seen in my time at Thistle. He is not just a young boy bouncing in and out of the tram, he is in the team to stay in the team. He knows he has to work hard every single day to stay in the team and as long as he does that you can only see good things happening for him.”