Brendan Rodgers has been speaking to the media before Celtic face Hearts in the Premiership this weekend.
Here are the key lines from the Celtic boss:
Rodgers eased fears over Alistair Johnston‘s fitness, saying the right-back went off injured while playing for Canada as a “precaution” after feeling tightness in his leg and has trained with the Celtic squad on Friday.
On reports Johnston is set for a new deal to make him one of the squad’s top earners, Rodgers says: “Nothing that I am aware of. I would love to have him here as long as we can. He’s got three-and-a-half years left on his deal and he is playing ever so well.”
Securing left-back Greg Taylor – who is out of contract next summer – is a “priority” for Celtic, with Rodgers saying: “He knows we really want him to stay and hopefully between his representatives and the club we can organise that because he is a player that I really rate.”
The manager is delighted with Celtic’s business during the summer window to enhance the strength and depth of his squad.
On Callum McGregor having a break during the international hiatus after his Scotland retirement, Rodgers says: “He looked great. He had a few days away. He looked fresh, he looked amazing to be fair! Hopefully he can keep his sequence of goals going.”
On Reo Hatate travelling with Japan but not getting any minutes, Rodgers “felt a wee bit for him” and hopes it will be a “great motivating factor”. He adds that the midfielder has returned in positive mood and ready to work harder.
Celtic aren’t looking ahead to Wednesday’s Champions League opener against Slovan Bratislava, with the full focus on beating Hearts this weekend.
On The VAR Review, where referee chief Willie Collum analyses key decisions and admitted Celtic should have had a penalty against Kilmarnock, Rodgers says: “I thought it was great… it can only be applauded. Transparency is what we all want.”
