ZERO NEED FOR THE THIRD MAN

Rodgers maintains having three strikers at Celtic is too much

THREE would still very much be a crowd in the eyes of Brendan Rodgers. His viewpoint on the number of out-and-out strikers suitable for the Celtic squad has not been altered by the injuries that have afflicted their Champions League bid.

That has been a topic of debate since Wednesday evening. With Moussa Dembele and Leigh Griffiths both sidelined, Parkhead watched Tom Rogic toil in an unfamiliar ‘false nine’ role against Rosenborg. Andre Hansen, the Norwegian goalkeeper, departed Glasgow having barely dirtied his gloves in the stalemate.

Some have questioned why there is not space for a third recognised centre-forward within the first-team squad. Rodgers’ answer is simple: it doesn’t work. Not in a system where only one can play. Spending good money to cover rank misfortune could ultimately end up creating disharmony.

His preferred solution is instead to have an adaptable wide player capable of operating centrally when others require medical attention. Patrick Roberts did that last season but is now back at Manchester City. Any possibility of the 20-year-old returning to Glasgow is set to be further explored alongside other alternative options with similar capabilities.

Should Celtic ultimately see off Rosenborg next week, they may well enter the transfer market prior to the Champions League play-off round. Stockpiling strikers will not, however, be the aim.

‘It is clear that Moussa is going to be out until September and so then we would probably need to bring another one in of a certain type because you can’t have three top strikers here,’ insisted Rodgers. ‘That is the reality. In Scotland, you can’t accommodate that — for a number of reasons. I have always had strikers who are hungry to play. People will say you can never have enough good players, which I think is rubbish.

‘If they are all fit and all fighting for a place then you are waiting for one to come in with a runny nose — “Yeah, take the weekend off. See you on Monday, get it right”.

‘It doesn’t work. You want that competition but you have to be very clear with it. It all goes back to how you play. If you play in 4-4-2 or always a diamond, you are more likely going to have maybe four strikers because you are clearly playing with two up front.

‘If you play 4-3-3 or a system with one striker, your need is more two/three. Any more doesn’t work. I prefer to go with two and then a winger that can also play as a striker. Last year, we had that with Pat. You can’t do it for a sustained period but it is new and fresh for three or four games.’

Griffiths could yet be fit for the second leg in Trondheim as a potentially pivotal away goal is sought. Along with Erik Sviatchenko, the Scot will stay at Lennoxtown to continue recovery work while Celtic face Sunderland in this afternoon’s friendly at the Stadium of Light.

‘Touch and go’ remains Rodgers’ assessment. The real issue is that injuries have hit the areas of the Celtic squad which, barring goalkeeper, are the most specialised. Full-backs can be covered, midfielders moved around. Replacing Dembele and Griffiths is more akin to alchemy.

Something similar applies at centre-back, where Dedryck Boyata has been ruled out until October. At least Celtic could call upon 19-year-old Kristoffer Ajer to make a very competent first start against his Norwegian compatriots.

‘My only disappointment is that we sat here at the start of the season and said that with this squad and one or two more, we were really healthy,’ reflected Rodgers.

‘Then all of a sudden, before you know it, you have lost your best centre-half. Okay, you try and cope with that but then the goals are taken out of your team.

‘Everyone clearly sees we are a very attacking team. I can coach a centre-half, I can coach a right-back and coach midfield players. But goalscorers are natural. That’s why you pay big money for strikers.

‘They have an in-built brain for the goal and the game. I had Daniel Sturridge. He never practised finishing. Never.

‘As soon as the session was finished, in he would go. He was just born a goalscorer and had every finish in the book. ‘Some other strikers would work on finishing for half-an-hour every day. Daniel, not once. Not because he was lazy. It was because he knew when he stepped on to the pitch that was it. He knew where the goal was. He could smell it.

‘If you take one striker out of your team, then okay. If you take two out, then: “Bloody hell”.

‘I’m not a magician. The game is also about the players. If you get the right players in, it gives you a chance.’

If the situation is creating stress within Rodgers, then it isn’t showing on the surface.

Having Griffiths available at the Lerkendal Stadium would clearly be comforting. But his absence would not cause a submersion in doubt.

Anxiety will be most prevalent for those outside the dressing room. Rodgers accepts that is a natural state of affairs during the Champions League qualifiers.

‘I think this whole phase of the competition breeds that,’ he added. ‘Even more so because of last season when we got back into the group stage.

‘What’s vitally important, if you look at the results around Europe, is that we didn’t concede. That’s absolutely vital.

‘There is a whole different pressure on Rosenborg now for their home game.

‘We are fine. We know we can score away from home. The game will open up.

‘We have the expectancy to qualify and we’re happy to live with that. This tie is like the Astana one last year. The games are tight.

‘There is no chance you are going to walk all over teams in this round, especially when you are still fighting for your fitness.

‘But like last year, can we find a way? That will be the case.’