A MATTER is being tentatively discussed among Celtic supporters which seems almost blasphemous, but it is taking root nonetheless. It is being whispered by fans in small groups for fear of being overheard and ridiculed if exposed to a wider audience: is Scott McDonald the new Henrik Larsson?

A Larsson-shaped vacuum has existed for three-and-a-half years and McDonald, of all people, is emerging as the first convincing candidate to fill it. This is something he might manage without having to be nearly as talented as Larsson was because it is about impact, not ability. McDonald is in the form of his life and what makes him like Larsson, at least for the time being, is that his goals are carrying Celtic.

Perhaps it will be one of those notions that people feel a little embarrassed about in a few months' time if McDonald does not manage to sustain the rich form which has propelled him through the opening months of his debut season. But by bringing down Kilmarnock with another two goals yesterday he took his total to 13 this season and 11 in his last eight starts. More significantly, in terms of his value to Gordon Strachan's team, he has scored 11 of Celtic's last 14.

There was consternation when Strachan dropped the Australian away to Benfica and a repeat is unthinkable when the teams meet again at Parkhead on Tuesday, when Shunsuke Nakamura has only a 50% chance of being fit because a knee injury.

"Scott could have had even more goals. His all-round play was excellent," said Strachan after his side's victory.

McDonald was partnered up front by Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, who inched closer to match fitness without looking there yet. "I thought Scott and Jan up front worked excellently and that's why Kilmarnock changed to three centre-backs," explained the Celtic manager. "Jan was brave, he took a lot of knocks, and his wee mate was never far away from him."

A ninth win in a dozen SPL matches maintained Celtic's hold of the league leadership. Kilmarnock gave them a game in the second half, having fallen two behind in a drab opening 45 minutes, and the action was raw and bruising to the end.

The two goals Kilmarnock lost were handed away so cheaply it was a minor miracle that manager Jim Jefferies, not exactly the easiest to please at the best of times, didn't self-combust out of blazing anger.

The play wasn't going anywhere in a first half in which the quality of Celtic's passing and especially their supply to the forwards had stretched Kilmarnock without looking like it would hurt them. Then, in the blink of an eye, Celtic were two goals up and the game looked as if it had been smothered by one of those serial killers which interest Strachan.

McDonald collected a long punt from Lee Naylor and instantly exhibited all of his primary talents. With his back to goal, that small, strong frame braced to hold off any challenge, his quick feet allowed him to turn Simon Ford and bury a crisp low shot into the corner of Alan Combe's net. Soon he had another.

Aiden McGeady is bubbling with confidence at the moment and he had another fine game. His gentle cross from the right took a slight deflection and McDonald made Frazer Wright look slow when meeting it at the near post with a glancing header.

Celtic had both end stands and although one was packed the other, where McDonald's goals came, was barely 20% full. The turn-out of Kilmarnock supporters was lamentable.

"What we said to the players at half time would be unprintable," said Jefferies. "We were pretty irate. We just didn't perform in the first half. Whenever we got the ball we gave it away after seconds, we didn't create, Artur Boruc didn't have a save to make and on top of that we lost two of the worst goals you could allow. It was a terrific game in the second half and that's because we took part, which we hadn't in the first. We had them on the back foot for a spell."

Although McDonald and McGeady were lively, and Strachan purred about the first half as a whole, there was generally an ordinariness about the champions which meant they were unable to impose themselves on the play or control Kilmarnock. The tackling was robust. It was a game which predictably became more heated when the home side pulled back a goal.

The obligatory away goal conceded by Celtic - this was their 31st consecutive away fixture since keeping a clean sheet - came nine minutes into the second half. It was a bread and butter set-piece, Gary Locke's free-kick found Wright leaping to score with a header after Artur Boruc started to come for the ball but failed to get near it.

Strachan said: "We spoke to Artur and told him we have giants at the back and if someone is going to get up above them and score from 15 yards they are going to be doing well. I think Artur just wants to get involved in the action of the game.

Typically, any likelihood of the goalkeeper's contribution being questioned was soon diluted by an excellent save to deny Colin Nish after he had been put clear by Gary Wales. If Jiri Jarosik had converted from close range or McGeady's shot had found the net when one-on-one with the goalkeeper the score would have been emphatic. But that would have flattered Celtic and deflected attention from McDonald. These days, no-one does that. It reminds you of someone.

Kilmarnock substitutes: Locke for Hamill 46, Bryson for Gibson 46, Jarvis for Ford 87 Not used: Harpur, Dodds, Clancy, Taouil Booked: Hamill 34, Fowler 43, Bryson 65 Celtic substitutes: none Not used: M. Brown, Sno, O'Dea, O'Brien, Killen, Donati, Riordan Booked: S. Brown 18, Kennedy 30, McGeady 55 Referee: D. McDonald Att: 8260