Chris Davies: Celtic players will get every chance to prove themselves

New Celtic assistant manager Chris Davies insists every player at Parkhead will get their chance to prove themselves to Brendan Rodgers.

The former Liverpool boss is settling into his new job and has started assessing the Hoops squad.

With 30 men in the first team, it is likely Rodgers' first task as Celtic manager will be to thin the numbers in the Lennoxtown dressing room.

But Davies has reassured those fearing for their futures they will be allowed to show what they are capable of once the team returns for pre-season training on June 20.

Davies said: "The work on assessing the squad has started already.

"We've looked at all the goals they scored and conceded last season. We've watched games and that is a process that will continue.

"Moving forward, we start pre-season in a couple of weeks and that's when we will start to really get to know the players and how we want to shape the squad moving forward.

"Ideally you want to be working with a compact squad. It creates a better working environment and helps the team.

"Brendan has been extremely proactive already in identifying what he wants and what he doesn't.

"We need to see the players up close, though, because that's always the best indicator of their strengths.

"Everybody who is here still has a chance.

"If you look back at Jon Flanagan at Liverpool - not many gave him a chance but he trained well and showed us he was ready to fight.

"Brendan put him in the team, played him in all the big games, so that is proof that everyone is going to get a chance here.''

One man who will be going nowhere is 40-goal frontman Leigh Griffiths, and Davies is keen to start working with the striker.

"I have seen the goals and there are some brilliant finishes in there,'' said the 31-year-old coach. "It's all stuff around the box, one and two touches then a clinical finish.

"Leigh was really high on confidence and that's what we want to create - a team that is creative and confident in attack.

"We're really lucky to be inheriting Leigh and we're looking forward to working with him close up.''

But Davies knows changes will have to be made if Celtic are to hit the ground running in the Champions League qualifiers, which get under way in early July.

Yet Rodgers' right-hand man believes the new management team will have little trouble luring the quality of player that is required.

"I think we can attract big quality here, there's no doubt,'' he said.

"Brendan in my opinion is one of the best managers in the game and here he is at one of the biggest clubs in the world.

"It's logical to think we can get some really good players here. We need players who can make a difference and that's what we're looking to attract."

Rodgers and Davies came close to landing a Barclays Premier League title during their time at Liverpool and the latter coach says the hunger for success has not dissipated.

He said: "We were extremely close to taking Liverpool back to the title. We're also very proud of taking Swansea up to the Premier League.

"But what we did at Liverpool and some of the players we brought along like Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling was an achievement that stands out.

"Now to be here is such an exciting challenge for all of us. We've got a real focus now that we have to bring success here consistently and we're looking forward to building that."