IT has been said that the only man to hail from Nottingham with a bigger backside than Kris Commons was Friar Tuck.

And at least that most merry of men had an excuse in that he sat about a forest all day drinking mead. The other celebrity from that neck of those famous woods is a professional footballer and the Celtic man has always been more stocky than svelte.

And yet despite this, and much of the criticism about his shape has been well over the top, Commons must start for Celtic on Sunday against Rangers in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park.

Not Colin Kazim-Richards, a red card in the waiting, nor Stuart Armstrong who evidently cannot play wide and while Gary Mackay-Steven has hit a bit of form, he is simply too lightweight for this encounter. Deila could even be tempted to bring James Forrest back from hibernation to play on the left hand side with the instruction for him to make the most of James Tavernier’s wanderings.

However, Commons is a match-winner and Deila needs to make sure he wins this match.

Commons' season has been disrupted. The now 32-year-old also broke his toe last summer in a domestic accident and only a few weeks ago shared with his social media followers a picture of his infected throat which had consigned him to barracks.

He has played just eight games in 2016, the last time almost a month ago in that dramatic win over Kilmarnock. He was hooked at half-time at Rugby Park having contributed little to the cause.

However, in this fixture, and please look away now if you believe this is to be an absolutely brand new game which bears no resemblance to any past what used to be called Old Firm matches, experience counts for so much both then and now.

It was always said that the Old Firm was an unpredictable beast and while it threw up a few left-field results over the years, far more often than not it came down to who was the better team, naturally, and additionally which side had the most experience of the game itself.

Celtic are the better side right now. There is actually no debate over that. For Deila to give his starting eleven even more of an advantage then he has to go with those who know what beating Rangers means.

Commons was a great derby player before Rangers went into liquidation. So, too, Charlie Mulgrew and Scott Brown. All three need to start this weekend. Not to do so would weaken Celtic and from Deila’s point of view, why on earth would he give Rangers any sort of encouragement.

Commons scored in the League Cup semi-final last year and has another three to his name from back in the day. He was so often a thorn in the side of Rangers back then and he would relish the chance to do in one more time.

Actually, make that possibly the last time because if Deila does stay for one more season then it is hard to see the player hanging around, although he has still managed nine goals this season. That makes a total of 91 from 220 games and he has easily had as many assists since joining in January 2011 from Derby County for £300,000.

From his first day at the club, Commons got Celtic. He was a star for Neil Lennon, even if the two of them did have a fall-out during his second season at the club, but he was soon named Player of the Year and while has not bee as key a player for Deila, no other midfielder has been anywhere as effective.

For me, Commons starts on the right, Tom Rogic is in the middle behind Leigh Griffiths and the in-form and another potential match-winner Patrick Roberts on the left hand side against Tavernier. That could be a great watch.

Mark Warburton is not going to do too much tinkering. It is fairly clear how his side will line-up and the personal. Rangers always give the opposition chances and the Celtic fans would much rather the ball dropped at the left foot of Commons than Armstrong, Mackay-Steven or anyone else for that matter on the edge of the box.

Before a Champions League game a few years back now, when the opposition trained at Murray Park ahead of their meeting with Celtic, Commons quipped; “Juventus can train in my back garden, it would make no difference. If they want to prepare at a Division Three training ground let them get on with it.”

Saucer of milk, fat free, for that man.

Now whether you think such a barb is part of the game or a bit unnecessary, what it does show is that Commons isn’t a huge fan of the other club and that counts as well. You need that dig and bit of, let’s be honest, hate.

Celtic should win on Sunday. They will win if Deila gets his team spot-on and Commons has to be in it.