Rodgers keen to avoid major changes during busy winter schedule

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers plans only "subtle changes'' to his starting line-up during a hectic schedule before the winter break.

The Hoops' Ladbrokes Premiership game at Hamilton on Saturday is the first of 11 matches before the end of the year and Rodgers will be without Kristoffer Ajer and Jozo Simunovic, while Scott Brown, Leigh Griffiths, Olivier Ntcham, Kieran Tierney and Tom Rogic have all been nursing injuries in recent weeks.

Rodgers knows he will have to rotate his squad but he has learned lessons from defeats at Hearts and Kilmarnock earlier this season, when he made five and six changes respectively following European games.

When asked about making changes, he said: "I have to, but obviously without making too many. Because I think we have already seen when we make too many changes we lose the flow of the team. That's where our two defeats came early on in the season, making big changes to try and compensate for big games following.

"But the players are now up to speed in terms of fitness and rhythm. We'll have to look at subtle changes within it, but I don't think there will be too many.

"I think what's important is that collectively it's been an incredible performance from these players over two and a half years on the pitch, and they know that collectively they all have to be ready. That's something we will continue to work hard to ensure all the players are ready if they are asked to play.''

Tierney might not be risked after being taken off during Scotland duty with a tight hamstring but the left-back is desperate to play.

"For me, it's train every game and hopefully get picked, because I want to play every game, the same as the two I missed there,'' Tierney said. "I was gutted I was pulled out.'

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