Brendan Rodgers praises 'professionalism' Celtic of fringe players
Last updated 3rd Nov 2023
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is confident he will get the desired performance from whoever he brings in to his team in Dingwall as he praised the "selfless" nature of his fringe players.
Rodgers is having to rotate his side amid a run of seven games in 21 days, which continues with successive away games against Ross County and Atletico Madrid.
Celtic overcame third-placed St Mirren in the cinch Premiership on Wednesday thanks to goals from David Turnbull - who had not started for six weeks - and Oh Hyeon-gyu, who is yet to start this season.
"It's what you want to see and it's testament to their professionalism," Rodgers said.
"You can't come in like David Turnbull the other night and play to the level and score the goal he did if you are not focused in training and working very hard.
"The intensity the players produce every single day is first class so that allows them to be ready when they do come in.
"All the guys that came in in midweek made a very important contribution.
"It is one game at a time but you can't deny you have to plan forward as well."
Rodgers has admitted in recent weeks that his squad is too big but he has not had any issues with the players who are struggling for game time.
"It's not been a challenge, purely because the players understand the situation, and their professionalism," he said.
"It is really hard when you have seven or eight players not involved in the match-day squad.
"That's something you have to navigate your way through and, of course, when
we get to January that will look different.
"John Kennedy, who leads the coaching, does a brilliant job to make sure the players are together. No-one is isolated despite the fact there are huge numbers.
"The players deserve huge credit as well because they come in very professional to work and they know it can change very quickly in football.
"You might be outside of it but then you get a chance and you have to be ready.
"Liam (Scales) is the perfect example. On the outside, not even travelling with some of the squads, and then gets the chance to play and because of that mentality and professional approach, he steps in and he is ready and he has gained confidence and is now playing at a very high level.
"We want players who are selfless. You are here to develop and improve as a player.
"All you can do is give your all every single day of your life, prepare yourself well, and then it's up to me to pick the team. You can do no more than that.
"That mentality to accept that needs to be right and thankfully we have that mentality here."
Celtic have plenty of travelling over the coming days but Rodgers is not complaining ahead of his return to the Highlands to face a team managed by his former Watford colleague, Malky Mackay.
"It's a beautiful trip, the journey up is fantastic," he said.
"I have travelled up a few times. Unfortunately we don't get the chance to pop into the House of Bruar, which is absolutely amazing on the way up.
"It's such a beautiful part of the world, to travel up in blue sky is amazing with the views.
"It's a tough game for us. Malky has done a brilliant job but that's no surprise to me, I know him well and I know hard he works. He gives absolutely everything into every job.
"In our first game of the season we had our challenges against them and this will be the same."