TINKER MAN? I’VE GOT NO CHOICE
BRENDAN RODGERS plans only “subtle changes” to his Celtic line-up during a hectic schedule before the winter break.
The Hoops’ 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 of late.
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.
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. 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 they all have to be ready. That’s something we will continue to work hard to ensure.”
Tierney might not be risked after being taken off during Scotland duty with a tight hamstring but the left-back is desperate to play.
“I want to play every game, the same as the two I missed there,” Tierney said. “I was gutted I was pulled out.”
Meanwhile, Rodgers is optiwhen mistic that continued communication with the board can help avoid another frustrating transfer window.
Rodgers expressed dissatisfaction during the summer after missing out on key targets such as John Mcginn, although Celtic broke their transfer record to keep loanee Odsonne Edouard.
“It was a frustration and I think that was well-documented,” he said ahead of today’s trip to face Hamilton.
“I’m not one that can hide it very well. As the manager and leader of the team, you want to continue pushing the team forward.
“January, in my experience here, is always an important window to strengthen.
“If we can do that, that will be the aim.”