Mackay-Steven ready to fight for Celtic place

Gary Mackay-Steven was grateful for a reassuring talk with new Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers as he battles back from surgery - but the winger knows he is fighting for his future when he recovers.

While his team-mates travelled to Slovenia for a pre-season training camp, Mackay-Steven remained in Scotland to continue his rehabilitation from an ankle operation.

The midfield is the most overflowing portion of Celtic's brimming squad but Rodgers is yet to release anyone from its ranks after allowing four forwards to depart.

But Mackay-Steven is only concerned with getting back to fitness first and foremost, with some time in August the target. And he appreciates that every Celtic player has to fight every day to make sure they have a Parkhead future.

On talks with Rodgers, Mackay-Steven said:

"I had a chat with him before they left and it was really positive. He said: 'Focus on your recovery and I look forward to having you back'.

"I'm just starting to run. I'm right on track and I've had no setbacks, it was going to be three months and that's eight weeks now.

"It's a little bit better now they're away in a way: I'm not seeing them every day. The first week you want to impress the new manager and they are out in training and you are stuck in the gym, it's not great. But I knew that and I'm concentrating on my rehab.

"Obviously with the new manager coming in it's not an ideal situation but I can just focus on getting fit and hitting the ground running and not having any problems with my ankle.

"I knew I was going to need work done three or four months before I had the operation. So it's a relief in a lot of ways that I got it done. I can just focus on impressing the new manager.''

Mackay-Steven struggled to build on his initial impact at Celtic in his first full season, out of the starting side for several months before struggling with his injury. Rodgers has a host of options in attacking midfield roles, including Ryan Christie, Scott Allan, James Forrest, Kris Commons, Stefan Johansen, Stuart Armstrong, Tom Rogic, Callum McGregor, Patrick Roberts and Liam Henderson.

Something will need to give but Mackay-Steven does not see anything unusual in playing for his future.

The former Dundee United player, who was promoting the Homeless World Cup in Glasgow, said:

"I think every day at a club like Celtic you are playing for that, regardless of how many players are here.

"Every transfer window we are linked to a lot of players. We have a lot of players and every single player is going to be of a high calibre.

"So you need to be on your toes every day. That's the mindset regardless at Celtic.''

And the 25-year-old believes he could be suited to the former Liverpool manager's plans.

The former Anfield youth player said: "Looking at the teams the manager has managed, he has always played an exciting brand of attacking football, creating chances, scoring goals and putting a lot of pressure on. So I can't wait to get back out there.''

The Homeless World Cup opening ceremony takes place at 12.30pm on Sunday in George Square followed by Scotland's opening games against Hong Kong and Norway. Entry is free, no tickets are required.