Rodgers: Getoff ourbacks

From Back Page Champions League despite having Virgil van Dijk in their side before his arrival.

Dedryck Boyata, Jozo Simunovic and stop-gap Nir Bitton have all been slated at various stages this term yet Rodgers feels some of the stick is unwarranted.

Celtic have lost only 15 goals in 22 Premiership games, four of those on one off day at Hearts.

Rodgers, who has added German veteran Marvin Compper, said: “There’s a lot of focus on our boys defensively but there has to be a bit of respect and reality as to who they are playing against.

“Celtic didn’t qualify for the Champions League and they had van Dijk and Jason Denayer at centrehalf. Who do people want Celtic to get if we can’t qualify with those two?

“I hear a lot of talk about getting a new centre-half. But defensively our team is very good. We could always be better but we are a collective. We defend as a team and press as a team.

“The response to when we lost to Hearts has been great. Defensively, to get four clean sheets, they can be tricky games especially on the back of the run we’ve been on.”

Rodgers has given a fitness bulletin on Tom Rogic and Patrick Roberts.

The Aussie is working his way back from a knee injury while the Man City loanee has done light sessions in Dubai. Rodgers said: “Pat is doing straight-line running and February remains the aim. If it’s earlier than that, great.

“We’re waiting to see what Tom’s reaction is and we’ll see where he’s at by the end of January.”