Rodgers considers longer stay for Bain

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has hinted at a potential Parkhead future for goalkeeper Scott Bain beyond the end of the season.

The on-loan Dundee man was thrust into the spotlight last weekend after stepping in following injury to Dorus de Vries and making several crucial saves in Celtic’s 3-2 win over Rangers.

It has been a frustrating season on the sidelines for Bain, who had not played since clashing with Dens Park manager Neil McCann in October before a brief loan move to Hibernian.

Injury to Craig Gordon led to Celtic sending out an SOS to Bain in January and, after warming the bench, he responded to the call with a fine display at Ibrox, which has left Rodgers considering a more permanent deal for the 26-year-old.

“I thought Scott Bain was absolutely outstanding last week to come into a game of that magnitude,” the Hoops boss said. “If you can play in that game as a Celtic player away at Ibrox with that atmosphere against your biggest rivals, then you know you can play in any game of football for Celtic.

“It’s difficult to come in as back-up goalkeeper, but the likes of (goalkeeping coach) Stevie Woods, who has known him longer than I, have always said that he’s a player that could play for us.

“Sometimes someone’s misfortune means good fortune for you and that was the way it worked out for Scott.

“I wanted to see him at some point in the season and I needed to put him in if we were going to look at anything beyond this season.

“It happened naturally that he got in and I thought his performance and temperament in that game showed me everything to say that he can play for Celtic.”

Rodgers, whose side face Motherwell tomorrow, admits that while Bain is an ideal fit for the Parkhead club, the amount of game-time he gets could be a factor with De Vries now back fit.

When asked if he was thinking of making it a more long-term deal, Rodgers said: “I think it’s short and long-term. It’s pretty clear that he has the temperament and qualities to play as a goalkeeper for Celtic.

“We will sit down with him and see how much he is going to enjoy it and look at his game-time between now and the end of the season.”

Meanwhile Celtic have been boosted by the return to training of Leigh Griffiths after six weeks out with a calf injury.

Scott Bain: impressed the manager.