Could set-piece coach be Celtic's key signing?

ByNick McPheat

BBC Sport Scotland

Emphasising the importance of set-piece coaches is suddenly being met with fewer eye rolls and more nods of approval.

Once regarded by many as a trendy fad, the need for a dead-ball choreographer is increasingly being viewed as a necessity - and Celtic have taken notice.

While fans of the Parkhead side are growing restless about there being zero incomings in the playing squad, the Scottish champions have made an eye-catching move by poaching set-play specialist Ross Grant from Hearts.

Here, BBC Scotland looks at why that could prove to be the club's most significant piece of recruitment this summer.

Grant spent four years at Dundee United before enjoying a successful 12-month spell at Hearts.

A lifelong Celtic fan, the Glasgow club say he will have a "particular focus on set-piece analysis and coaching".

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill added: "I know he is a highly rated coach and I look forward to working with him."

To understand why Grant is so highly rated, though, you must understand his impact at Hearts, who were only denied a historic Scottish Premiership title triumph by Celtic in a dramatic final-day decider last season.

Part of the reason why the Tynecastle side put themselves in a position to become the first non-Old Firm team to win Scotland's top flight in four decades was their mightily impressive set-piece record.

More than a third of their league goals came from set-plays, while no team managed a higher tally than their total of 23. Rangers were joint top with Hearts in that chart; Celtic were around mid-table.

Sixteen of those 23 Hearts goals came from corners - a league high. Celtic had 10 fewer, with just six - only two teams had a worse tally.

By a distance, Hearts had the most successful corners into opposition boxes and the most aerial duels won. They also created the most chances from set-plays. Celtic were eighth in that regard.

Hearts scored six goals fewer than Celtic but had double the number of headed goals, with striker Claudio Braga and centre-back Stuart Findlay nodding in the most in the division - five each.

Defensively, only two teams conceded fewer goals from set-pieces than Hearts. One of those sides was Celtic, who conceded nine to Hearts' 10.

Creativity, delivery and finishing.

In Grant, Celtic have arguably secured the best set-piece coach in the Premiership last season, so that is one box ticked.

In Arne Engels, they also have someone capable of executing a deadly set-play.

The Belgium midfielder took the third-most successful corners in the league last term. He also ranked in the Premiership's top 10 for set-play chance creation.

Only Rangers' Emmanuel Fernandez and Hearts defender Findlay scored more goals from corners than Celtic's Benjamin Nygren, while Daizen Maeda sits in the division's top five for headed shots.

Celtic, therefore, have players capable of getting on the end of deliveries.

However, with Engels and Maeda linked with summer moves away, they could be looking for replacements for two players who have contributed significantly to both their open-play and dead-ball output.

As fans grow tetchy about a lack of summer activity, there will also be intrigue over how much focus on getting the best out of Grant's skills will influence player recruitment.