There are quieter ways to respond to criticism. Hogh chose the loudest one available to a centre-forward: score, then score again, then complete the set before the break.
Reports had framed him as a player under early pressure after arriving with a big reputation, and this was the clearest possible reply. A first-half hat-trick does more than settle a game; it changes the mood around a striker. Instead of questions about adaptation, the focus becomes timing, movement and ruthlessness.
For Celtic, that matters. At a club where forwards are judged quickly, decisive afternoons can reset the narrative.
The scoreline - 5-1 away from home - underlined how comfortable Celtic were. Kilmarnock never recovered once the visitors found their rhythm, and the match quickly became less about tension and more about how far Celtic could push their advantage.
The setting added a little intrigue, with the game played on the new grass pitch at Rugby Park, but Celtic adapted far better. Their sharpness in the final third and the authority of the win made this look like a side already playing with conviction.
Big wins in August do not settle a season, but they can sharpen belief and ease pressure. For Hogh, this looks like the kind of performance that can buy time, trust and momentum. For Celtic, it is a reminder of the level they can hit when the attack clicks early.
The next question is simple: can Hogh carry this into the next fixture and turn one explosive afternoon into a run?