Rodgers backs Hayes to fill KT role at Ibrox
BRENDAN Rodgers has insisted that Jonny Hayes is more than capable of handling the pressure at Ibrox if Kieran Tierney fails to make Saturday’s game against Rangers.
The Celtic manager has backed Hayes as time looks to be running out for Tierney to make the trip to Ibrox with an ongoing hip complaint.
The Scotland internationalist has missed Celtic’s last four games with the problem and although Rodgers stressed that he would be nursed through the next 48 hours, there seemed a strong hint that the game will come too soon for Tierney.
“He is clearly a question mark, in the next 48 hours we will see,” said Rodgers. “If not it’s unfortunate, but we have other guys to come into the squad and that’s always an opportunity.’
“I’ve know Jonny since he was 15, he has played a number of positions and can play wing-back or leftback. So he is pretty comfortable and has that speed and power to get forward.
“But as you see with his recovery when he got back he has the work ethic as well. If he has to play there, or Emilio Izaguirre, then there is no problem.”
Meanwhile, Rodgers also praised the character of Celtic as they took all three points from Pittodrie after twice being pegged back in the game.
A dramatic finale saw five goals netted in the last 14 minutes with Rodgers keen to highlight the mentality within his players who go to Ibrox with a three point lead and a game in hand.
“That’s how their mind is over these last couple of years,” he said. “We just focus on our job.
“You know that when you play Aberdeen in these games you have to fight.”