IF this does turn out to be his last match for Celtic, it can't have been exactly how Kris Commons would have wanted to choreograph his departure.

For once, his killer touch in front of goal deserted him, and it all ended rather abruptly when a bungled substitution saw him, and not Leigh Griffiths, being rushed over to the touchline to be replaced by Stefan Scepovic with 10 minutes left.

The 31-year-old was back on the field after the final whistle in his flip-flops, throwing his boots to the crowd and clapping the fans, the time-honoured signal of a player who has played his last game for his club. But not only was this act rather overshadowed by Ronny Deila's by now typical fist-pumping routine, confusion reigned completely post-match when the Norwegian swore blind that Commons would indeed be staying until the summer at least, and hinted that all of the histrionics were part of some protracted negotiations between club and player.

"He needs to go and get new boots," said Deila, leaving open the tantalising possibility that this was the most ill-advised grand transfer gesture since Peter Odemwingie drove to QPR's training ground. "It is going to be expensive for him."

The early kick-off offered Deila's Celtic the chance to put the pressure on Aberdeen for a change, the Norwegian making two changes from the side which put Kilmarnock to the sword at Rugby Park prior to their Gran Canaria break. Griffiths replaced Scepovic up front, while Jason Denayer came in for Efe Ambrose at centre-half.

Hamilton's 1-0 victory at Parkhead in early October was their first there since 1938, the Lanarkshire club's new-found fame since then seeing names as outlandish as Rino Gattuso and John Hartson being linked with the opportunity to replace Alex Neil at New Douglas Park.

A deadline of this Wednesday has been set for applications, but for now the task of taking this team belongs to Martin Canning, and the caretaker boss drafted himself into the line-up at the back. He said afterwards that he hadn't even had time to think yet about whether he fancies the job on a permanent basis. "I haven't had time to sit down with my wife and talk about it," said Canning afterwards. "But there is a lot to think about because it would be a complete change for me."

Commons would spend most of the day peppering the Hamilton goal with desperate efforts from all angles, but Hamilton were capable of creating menace,too.

Stephen Hendrie, also reportedly a Celtic target, swept over a dangerous cross which Mikael Antoine Curier might have converted had he not lost it in the sun, then Craig Gordon came up with a fine close-range save to defy the same player after Denayer had headed the ball off his own bar.

Commons did at least end up with one assist to show for his afternoon's work, laying on a fine goal for Adam Matthews.

The Welshman ran onto his pass and lashed in a right-foot drive which was still rising when it hit Michael McGovern's top corner. "I hope Adam Matthews continues to do that," deadpanned Deila. "If he does, it is going to be a very fun season."

Another nice Celtic move almost ended in a spectacular Leigh Griffiths volleyed finish, but it wasn't until the second period that the visitors secured the points. Darian MacKinnon could only partially clear a deep Matthews cross and when Emilio Izaguirre helped it into the middle, Liam Henderson swivelled to fire in a low left-foot drive. The 18-year-old, out of favour in the early part of the campaign, could be a long term beneficiary if Commons does leave, but he spoke last night of the void his departure would leave in the short-term.

"Kris has been excellent," said Henderson. "He's a massive player for us so it would be a big loss if he went. He's a top guy and takes young boys under his wing. He's helped me out a lot. I think he's repaid the club with his goals and if he does go it will be sad to see him go but, personally, I don't think he will go."

Dougie Imrie had a couple of chances to breathe some life back into this contest - played out in front of a record New Douglas Park crowd of 6007 - and substitute Eamonn Brophy also saw the whites of Gordon's eyes, but to no avail.

Regardless of the Commons farrago, this was a more comfortable environment for Deila than he experienced on Friday night at Ibrox when his plans for a scouting mission ahead of the Old Firm semi-final lasted just 24 minutes.

"The protest was underway when we went into the ground, but we managed to get in," said Deila. "It was good to be in the stadium and see how it is so mentally you can prepare for it, but it shouldn't have been a game from the start. There was so much snow we had to go on ski, like in Norway."