IT wasn't too long ago that John Collins and John Hughes were knocking balls around the gold course together as they filled their time away from football.

The duo make a somewhat unlikely pairing - Collins refined and calm, Hughes brash and loud - yet both men share the same philosophy when it comes to setting out a football team. Always looking to create teams who try to play with the ball on the deck, they have plenty of common ground when it comes to talking tactics.

Their friendship was borne from the time they spent at Celtic before they teamed up again at Livingston. But even during the days spent on the golf course the only chat revolved around football.

The duo will go up against one another this weekend as Celtic return to the Highlands - where they lost to Inverness in those turbulent early weeks of the season - and Collins would like the chance to get one over his mate.

"I can't speak highly enough about John and the work he has done," said Collins. "The results have been outstanding but equally important is the style of football.

"He has a good group of players and he has them playing a very similar style of football to what we play. It is proper football. It is the hardest football to coach. The easiest football to coach is kick it up the park and play for second balls but John works tirelessly on the training pitch.

"I have worked with him, I know how he works. He has done a wonderful job.

"His track record is excellent and I am sure he will be on the radar of bigger clubs.

"I do miss the golf with him but all we ever talked was football. We always talked about if and when we got in what we would do. He is back in and doing a great job."

Meanwhile, Ronny Deila has been candid throughout the season about his aspirations of becoming only the third Celtic manager to win a domestic Treble. Collins, though, is of a different ilk and is uncomfortable talking publicly about such an achievement.

Far more reticent than the Hoops boss, Collins is insisting that Celtic need to take each game on their individual merits.

However, he has acknowledged that being part of a Celtic Treble-winning side would go some way to assuaging the frustration he felt as a player at the club when the Hoops were lightyears behind their Ibrox counterparts.

Collins and Paul McStay were two of the leading lights at the club throughout those lean years so to feature in a team that enjoys a clean sweep this season would be something special for him - even if he doesn't get the chance to pull on his boots.

"I can speak for everyone - a treble is special. Not many coaches or players have achieved that. If we do achieve it, it will be great for everyone.

"It will always mean a lot. A treble is a treble. It is a big thing to achieve. I don't like talking too much about it.

"It is good to have excitement but we are focused. There is a wonderful atmosphere in the club just now.

"As a player you want to win things and at that time Rangers were the dominant force. Things have changed and it is now us who are the dominant force. It is important we stay there.

"We are in a good position. We are out in front, we are winning games, not conceding, scoring goals - although we could be scoring more. We are in the driving seat but nothing is concluded yet."

John Collins was speaking as Celtic made an appeal for foodbank donations to their home game against Kilmarnock on Wednesday, April 15th. The club will mark the 100th anniversary of Brother Walfrid on 17th April with lunch in the Number 7 restaurant for 500 individuals from the city's homeless community.