Brendan Rodgers hopes egos remain at bay as Celtic host St Johnstone

A victory for the Hoops on Wednesday night would take them six points clear at the top

Published 28th Jan 2019

Boss Brendan Rodgers believes ego could be Celtic's biggest enemy in their Ladbrokes Premiership meeting against St Johnstone at Parkhead on Wednesday night.

Victory over the Saints in their game in hand would take the Hoops six points clear of Rangers at the top of the table.

Celtic have won all 11 home league games this season and indeed have lost only one domestic match at Parkhead since the former Liverpool boss took over in the summer of 2016 - a 1-0 deficit to Aberdeen in May, 2018 when the title was already clinched.

At the pre-match press conference at Lennoxtown, Rodgers confirmed that 21-year-old Ukraine international Maryan Shved was having a medical with a view to a deal and that Sunderland, among other clubs, are interested in taking winger Lewis Morgan on loan.

Turning to the visit of the Perth side, Rodgers said: "We know it will be a tough game and you have to be really concentrated.

"These are the type of games where your biggest enemy can be your ego.

"You have a game in hand and are playing at home but just because we have won every other game, you can never take it for granted.

"You still have to do all the work, all your defensive work, get to all your second balls, you have to press the game hard and from there demonstrate your qualities.''

Shved plays for Karpaty Lviv in the Ukrainian Premier League and Rodgers stated previously that he is likely to be sent out on loan on completion of his move.

He said: "There is a medical going on today so hopefully over the next few days that (transfer) can be organised then he will come back to here and talk through what his development plan will be and go from there.'