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rewards. But over the coming years you can see there will be more money invested in that side of the game as well.

“There are some top-class clubs in the competition. So for us it’s a competition we haven’t been in for a couple of years – but we are not entitled to be in the Champions League team. We want to do the very best we possibly can in it.

“It will always be a challenge for us whatever comp we are in, but we have to embrace it and do our very best. We know where we are at as a club in relation to European football and everything else, but we have to do our best and hopefully we can show in this competition the experiences we have had the last couple of years and be better for that and see if we can go further than last year.

“We didn’t qualify for the Champions League this year because we weren’t good enough, circumstantial or not. We weren’t good enough to qualify.”

As has been the norm over the course of the campaign this summer, Rodgers does not have his injury issues to seek.

Jack Hendry is fit but Jozo Simunovic is sidelined while Norwegian defender Kristoffer Ajer is a doubt.

“Kris has had a viral issue,” said Rodgers. “To be fair to him he’s played through especially the last game against St Mirren. It’s unfortunate but we just have to get on with it.”

Filip Benkovic made his debut for the club in Friday night’s 0-0 draw with St Mirren and could be set to keep his place.

Simunovic had a scan on his knee this week and the club are monitoring him.