THOMAS ROGNE spent part of a crisp morning in Lennoxtown yesterday reflecting on fate, fortune and the mystery of confidence lost and faith retained.

It may seem an unusual way for a 21-year-old defender to pass the time but, in mitigation, he was merely helping the press with their inquiries.

The most pressing of these, of course, is just how Celtic overcame a 15-point gap in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League to enter 2012 with a two-point lead and how this momentum can be continued. The answer to this question of arithmetic contains references to self-belief, faith in the manager and a quietly spoken revelation that Neil Lennon remained unperturbed by the maelstrom surrounding his team.

"The manager has been the same all the time,'' said the Norwegian in response to questions about Lennon's ability to withstand the stress of slipping behind Rangers and then trailing Kilmarnock by three goals at Rugby Park in October. Both deficits were redressed. ''After the Kilmarnock game something changed a bit around. Maybe it is luck, fate, whatever it is, but it changed and we started getting the results we deserved. After that we did not look back."

Of the half-time scene at Rugby Park, he said: "If there is a rock bottom, then I think we were there then. Of course, it was not a proud moment for anyone. But after the game we could lift our heads up and say that we had given it our all."

The league position has changed, but Lennon has not. "He believes in what he does and so do the players," said Rogne. "He stayed the same and kept on telling us to do the same things. The message was that it would come for us and it has done. The results speak for themselves in terms of what he has done for us," said Rogne in reference to Celtic's 10 consecutive league victories.

"He keeps things the same because he believes in what we are doing and always has done. That's one of his real big strengths. If you suddenly change everything around, players get anxious. But all the players believed it was only a matter of time before we started playing and getting results. There was never a doubt for us that we could get the lead cut back because we always believed we could do it."

Lennon, in turn, has faith in the 6ft 4in centre-half. There is arithmetic in this, too. Rogne has only played 27 matches for Celtic in two years but he has participated in 17 clean sheets. His career at Celtic has been ravaged with injury but closer inspection reveals that it is also marked with understated achievement.

Rogne's form is unimpeachable and he is trying to dispel doubts about his fitness. ''The last few months I have changed a bit," he said of attempting to halt the minor injuries that have punctuated his career in Glasgow. "When the team is doing a really hard session then I will not do the full session, but the day after I will do a bit extra. It feels like that has been working."

He is aware of the manager's belief in him, accepting that when he has been fit he has been in the team. However, Rogne has endured difficult moments in matches, particularly against Nikica Jelavic in last season's Co-operative Insurance League Cup final. But he conclusively won the rematch in last month's Old Firm match.

Rogne, part of a side that averaged 22 years of age in that 1-0 victory, believes he has grown in his time at Celtic and wants that process to continue. "I would love to be part of this club for a long time. I enjoy it here, I enjoy Glasgow and Celtic," said the defender, whose contract extends to the end of next season. "I tell everyone who asks me that it was probably the best decision of my life to come here. It's been a great experience even though there have been ups and downs."

These fluctuations in form may be attributable to the tender years of many of the squad but Rogne said: "The manager has not been afraid to play the younger players and that shows us all that he has great confidence in us all. We have a lot of players who will develop even more with experience. We are a good side and a young side."

Footballing reality dictates that some of the players may leave prematurely but Rogne said the bulk of the side was committed to the club. "All the players like it here and want to stay, I think. We know we have some really good players and, of course, clubs from big leagues are going to be interested. But that's all part of being at Celtic."

Rogne may soon join a list of coveted players that already includes Ki Sung-Yueng, Emilio Izaguirre, Adam Matthews and the injured Biram Kayal. His immediate priority, though, is clear-cut. "Everyone wants to win the league," he said. "This is what we dedicate our lives to – to win the league for Celtic. It means everything to us, the club, the manager and the fans. The players that have been here the last few years have not been happy with results so there is a mission we want to complete here."