Rodgers is planning to give his cap stars a rest

BRENDAN RODGERS has told his international stars they will get a break before the season finishes — but not until after the double-header with Rangers at the end of this month. Scotland’s victory over Slovenia has increased the stakes surrounding the World Cup qualifier against England at Hampden on June 10. Scott Brown has already been given Rodgers’ blessing to continue his renaissance by playing, but having international games around that date could extend this season for up to five of the skipper’s Scotland team-mates plus the likes of Swedish defender Mikael Lustig and Dedryck Boyata, of Belgium. Mindful that his players are due to begin their preparations for the Champions League qualifiers around June 20, however, Rodgers intends granting staggered breaks for his internationals after the

Scottish Cup semi-final with Rangers on April 23, and the last Old Firm league meeting of the season six days later. ‘There would be quite a few I would have a look at, not just the Scotland players,’ said Rodgers, with the date of the league game confirmed yesterday. ‘I feel I have a big enough squad to cope with that. We will assess it, but it won’t be in the next month because you are in danger of breaking the rhythm.’ Asked if he was concerned such a strategy might endanger the club’s chances of going the entire season unbeaten, Rodgers said: ‘Yes. It’s not a big priority for me. My priority is to finish the season as strongly as we can. ‘I made eight changes away at Ross County and we won. That showed the trust I have in the group. ‘But I have to look after the players’ welfare. That is important and I have always done that because I have to manage forward if we go into the Champions League qualifiers.’ Rodgers takes his side to Tynecastle tomorrow seeking to extend that unbeaten domestic run to 37 matches. Scott Sinclair seems likely to reprise his central striking role after injury put paid to the chances of Leigh Griffiths and Moussa Dembele featuring. ‘He (Griffiths) is struggling for the weekend,’ said Rodgers. ‘He did well in the (Scotland) game, so getting the knock was frustrating for him. But, hopefully, he will be back within the next week. ‘Moussa won’t play at the weekend but should be OK for next week. He struggled towards the end of the Dundee game. ‘He didn’t think it was anything but a scan showed a tweak of his hamstring. ‘He has responded well and has been out on the pitch but I won’t risk him.’ Stuart Armstrong picked up a man-of-the-match award on his Scotland debut and Rodgers has no fears over the midfielder committing the best years of his career to Celtic. ‘Stuart needs to be here for the next couple of years — developing and improving,’ said Rodgers. ‘Like some other players, there may be a time for him when there is bigger money and bigger possibilities. He won’t go to a bigger club, that’s for sure.’