THE trials and tribulations of Robin van Persie have coloured so much of the build-up to Fenerbahce's visit to Parkhead and resonated within one particular corner of the Celtic dressing room.

The former Manchester United forward's evident unhappiness over being relegated to the substitutes' bench, expressed both in strong words and the refusal to shake his coach Vitor Pereira's hand prior to a 3-2 loss to Istanbul rivals Besiktas at the weekend, has placed him very much in centre stage ahead of this evening's intriguing encounter in Group A of the Europa League.

His difficulties with Pereira are already being portrayed as a damaging feud within the Turkish media. His place in the side remains uncertain. However, the Dutchman's anger over his treatment, in no way assuaged by a wage packet totalling almost £70,000-a-week, is hardly uncommon or unexpected.

Like van Persie, Kris Commons is now 32 years old. Like van Persie, he has had to spend periods of this season cooling his heels in the dug-out.

He is honest enough to admit that there has been friction between himself and his own manager, Ronny Deila. Commons is in no mood to mellow with age. He is not interested in being rested or being part of squad rotation.

He wants to play every week, he has made that clear to Deila and he has set his sights on proving himself, beyond question, the best player in Scottish football over the remaining seven months of the season.

"I've had frustrations with all my managers," conceded the commendably candid Commons. "It's not just Ronny.

"It was Neil (Lennon), too. I've had issues with managers across my whole career whether (it is because) they see me on the bench or as a squad player or whatever.

"Nothing has changed since I became a professional at 17. I am a winner and I want to win games. I'm angry when I am not playing and, when we lose, I am even angrier. To be not playing and losing is the most frustrating.

"If I'm not in the team, I want to know why.

"I think people think that, when you get to this sort of age, you start to step back and think about coaching roles and youth development roles. That is not on my agenda.

"I don't only want to be Celtic's top player, but still the big name in Scottish football. I won the Player of the Year award a couple of years back and I want to get back to that standard.

"I want to be making an impact week in, week out and you can't do that if you are in and out the team.

"Am I a nuisance? You'd need to ask the manager. I'm not going to disrupt an atmosphere, but he knows if I am not in the team, I'm not going to be happy.

"If we are winning, great. If you are watching us lose at Aberdeen and don't get the chance to get on, it's bitterly disappointing."

Commons was ruled out of action at the beginning of the season after breaking a toe in an accident at his home. It was not until Celtic travelled to Amsterdam to meet Ajax in the opening match of their Europa League campaign, in the immediate aftermath of losing 2-1 at Pittodrie, that he was reinstated to the starting line-up for good.

He responded that night by setting up Nir Bitton for the opening goal and providing the corner that saw a Mikael Lustig header earn a creditable 2-2 draw. He earned his right to hold down a place in the team and he is not willing to surrender it easily.

"I want to play every single game, score goals, create goals, and be a big-time player for the manager," he said. "If there are certain things I need to work on that he is still not convinced about, I will do that.

"Playing in Amsterdam, in such a big match, was a big confidence boost for me, even though we didn't come away with a win.

"If I am fit and healthy, I have a lot to offer the team.

"Managers just see the game differently sometimes. Every manager wants the complete player, which, sometimes, you don't get from certain individuals.

"I came back from pre-season with a broken toe that kept me out for eight weeks. I was trying to get fit, but I didn't have a full preseason. I had problems with my footwear too. I've had to wear bigger trainers and bigger boots because any pressure on my little toe has been killing me since I broke it.

"I think Ronny has been happy from the conversations we have had over the past couple of months, though. Now, it's other people's jobs to try and get back in the team."

Deila, still hoping to agree a contract with trialist Carlton Cole despite the former West Ham United striker suffering an injury in training, is certainly open to full, frank exchanges with his players. It is part of his management ethos and he insists Commons is not, by any means, a nuisance.

"Not more than any others," said the Norwegian. "It happens a lot.

"The worst that can happen in a club is when you start talking about each other instead of to each other.

"I'm a very honest guy. I say what I think. I also expect people to talk straight to me rather than around me because that is a very important thing.

"I'm good at reading body language. If you see a player who doesn't look you in the eye going past you, it is a cry for help. If you then go into a room and ask him what the problem is, you will get it out of him.

"Doing that means you have created energy rather than losing it."

Deila certainly expects an energetic display from his side this evening, insisting his players must go for the throat against a side endeavouring to recover from a 3-1 loss to Molde and a domestic campaign that has brought four wins from six games.

"We are at our best when we are offensive and really at it from the first kick of the ball," he said. "This is the match plan and we have to execute it with energy and belief.

"It's always tough to beat a Scottish team when they are getting up to tempo."