Rodgers salutes slick Celtic display

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was delighted with his much-changed side’s performance in thumping Sunderland 5-0 in Saturday’s Dafabet Cup friendly.

Callum McGregor’s hattrick, backed by strikes from Jonny Hayes and Stuart Armstrong, matched Celtic’s last trip to Wearside, in 1965.

Rodgers, whose side can now focus fully on Wednesday’s Champions League third qualifying round second leg tie against Rosenborg in Norway, enthused: “The players put on a real show. It was a really good performance at this stage of the season.

“This is a club just out of the Premier League, with a lot of the same players, and this was their final game before they play their first competitive game as well.

“The players, particularly the young players were outstanding – it was a great experience for them.

“I am really pleased with lots of elements of our game. All the players contributed to a really good performance.

“We didn’t have a centre-forward but we have players like James Forrest, who played up front, and he was exceptional in his link-up play and his ability to receive the ball and get turned and move.

“Callum, I have said it before, is a top young talent and he will be very important for us in the season and you saw that.

“He also has the ability to score goals.

“We have that throughout the team. We showed it last season, we will show it this season and we hope we can show that over the course of the qualification phase.

“It’s just the players finding their rhythm again and today was another step forward in their fitness and technical levels, and they put on a nice performance for the support.

“I have to mention the support.

“We put on a show on the field and the supporters, off the field, that’s how you support your team.

“Friendly or no friendly, they were absolutely phenomenal.”

Celtic are level at 0-0 with Rosenborg after the home first leg.