Rodgers to sign cover for World Cup absentees

Brendan Rodgers admits having four players at the World Cup Finals could be bittersweet for Celtic’s Champions League hopes – and he’ll tackle the problem in the January transfer window.

Aussie Tom Rogic and Sweden’s Mikael Lustig both made the Russia showpiece through the play-offs this week.

And with 62-cap Cristian Gamboa there with Costa Rica and a fit Erik Sviatchenko expected to be part of Denmark’s squad, it leaves gaps in Rodgers’ plans.

The World Cup runs from June 14 to July 15 but with a potential four rounds of Champions League qualifiers in a brutal eightweek schedule kicking off on July 10, there will be a knock-on effect.

Rodgers said: “It’s the way it is. We have to prepare for that in the next window to ensure we’re covered.

“Gamboa and Lustig are right-sided defensive players so that’s a key area for us because we don’t want to be left short.

“Tony Ralston can cover but it’s an area we need to consider.

“We have been short in certain areas over the last two summers, so January is a big window for us if we feel we need to do something.

“The qualifier schedule is punishing to say the least.

“Then there are games you need to play to get fit and the league might be up and running. So it’s not made any easier for any team trying to qualify.

“But my overall feeling is happiness for the guys who have made it. We will manage our schedule accordingly.”

Meanwhile, Rodgers will spend the next few days reassuring his players they belong on the same stage as PSG’s billion-pound squad.

The 5-0 thrashing from the French champs at Parkhead was Celtic’s worst home defeat in Europe.

Rodgers has admitted PSG have some of the world’s best players but he said: “We’ll try to get a result even though in their league and in Europe they’ve been hammering teams.

“People like Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe have a belief that they are top players and in the biggest games they want to show it.

“It’s a constant job for me to convince my players they can compete at that level. Against Bayern Munich, we showed that. We performed well but didn’t get a result, so there are bits to learn from that.

“At this level, it’s not so much about the possession you have, it’s about dangerous possession. There are going to be long spells when you don’t have the ball – but can you be dangerous with it?

“Can you show the personality and confidence to show you belong on that stage?

“That’s what I always look for, it’s what I looked for in the first game. PSG and Bayern Munich are expected to go all the way in the competition.

“So realistically it is tough for us. Wednesday is about can we play our game and improve. You get that with personality.

“That’s a measure I would look at.”