IT is football’s equivalent of that difficult second album or the sequel to a classic movie which broke all box office records and won so many Oscars the Academy had to make up a new category.
If your debut season at a club is nigh-on perfect, and Scott Sinclair’s first 12 months at Celtic was just that, following up on the best campaign of your career with something even better or at worst of equal brilliance isn't easy.
In the 18 months since Sinclair won every personal and team award going, the Englishman has scored 30 goals, 12 this season alone, picked up another four trophies and as for assists, nobody has more at Celtic. Then again, nobody has more goals.
Statistics don’t 100 per cent prove form, but these numbers are not of a player who has been unable to contribute to his team. And yet, the man himself won’t try to hide away from the fact he has been unable to reach the levels of that ridiculously good first season.
However, he is always good for a goal. The work rate could never be questioned. And, as Brendan Rodgers would be keen to point out, Sinclair is a good team-mate. He is forever setting up chances for others.
But this is a player who will always be judged by that period when he could do no wrong.
“I had the best season, probably of my career, when I first arrived and then the second year I was still top scorer. I then went through a little stage of... when you have set that bar so high, then everybody expects it every week that goes by.
“It is just about me getting back to that level. I'm in a good place right now and want to keep improving and scoring.
“Is it asking a lot to maintain those standards? That's what happens when you set it that high, that's the standard everyone expects of you. All I can do is keep going, keep playing well. I'm in good place now and all I can do is build on that keep going forward.”
Sinclair is back among the goals and while he is not at his best, and it is probable that Celtic fans won’t see him reach his highest level again, it is his best form for over a year.
At 29 and happy with life in Glasgow, Sinclair is in no rush to get back over the border and should he find some consistency, then Rodgers has one of his most reliable performances back.
Sinclair said: “It’s always nice getting back to form. It couldn’t have come at a better time. We had a nice rest in January. We went to Dubai and came back with everyone taking their turn.
“What has changed? I’ve been working on it. Getting the run of games. Being in and out it’s quite hard to pick up form. Now I’m in so it’s up to me to keep performing and scoring. I can’t really put my finger on what the difference is but the main thing is the run of games and getting the confidence and form back.
“It’s up to me to come up with a different game plan and movements and what I’ve been working on and playing a different part of my game. There’s always more to come but I feel I’m in a good place now. I’m scoring, I’m creating and I’m back being positive when I get the ball.”
Footballers may boast a Rothchild bank account, the beautiful house with an even more beautiful wide, but when the confidence takes a dent, even the strongest character thinks twice about trying to beat their man. Safety replaces silky. What once came naturally becomes a clumsy chore. It has been good to see this player, for the first time in some time, rediscover his touch.
Sinclair said: “I think with the qualities I have everyone expects me to dribble past four or five defenders every time I get the ball. ’ve got to mix it up because people are doubling up. Instead of playing simple you get on the front foot and make things happen.”
Celtic had a good week and on Wednesday have their game in hand, at home to St Johnstone, which would put them in a far more comfortable position should they win, which they always do at Parkhead.
And while this Scottish Premiership season still has a bit to go, the chasing pack will soon see the games running out for them should the champions stretch their legs at the top. Which they must do this season.
“The standard has definitely gone up. Teams are better now, and everyone is competing. It's tight at the top and it makes it more exciting for everyone.
"People mention other teams when we do come in at the end of a match in terms of how they’ve got on, but the main thing for us is we keep winning. We don't really need to worry about anyone else. We're at the top, we've got a game in hand, we concentrate on ourselves going forward and just keep winning games.”
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