Rodgers offers his backing to Gordon

CELTIC manager Brendan Rodgers said he would have no qualms about pitching Craig Gordon into Wednesday night’s Champions League match against Manchester City after Dorus de Vries picked up a knock during his side’s 6-1 Ladbrokes Premiership win over Kilmarnock yesterday.

Rodgers revealed the Dutch goalkeeper had sustained a chest injury midway through the first half as he tried in vain to keep out the 35-yard-shot from Souleymane Coulibaly that gave the Parkhead visitors the lead. He was replaced at half-time by Gordon, who lost his place in the team to De Vries at the end of last month and was fortunate not to be sent off upon his return for the Betfred Cup game at home to Alloa Athletic in midweek.

His manager, though, insisted he would not hesitate to start the Scotland international against City should De Vries fail to recover in time. “I am 100 per cent comfortable with Craig,” Rodgers said. “He’s more than capable. He’s a brilliant shot stopper, and he’s improving his game with his feet all the time.

“It’s a part of how I work, players have to work that way, there’s no compromise, no choice, and he’s more than capable to come in, of course.

“[De Vries] strained his chest when he landed [at the goal]. He could have played on but we had Craig there fit and capable and I didn’t want to take any risk. So we will see how Dorus is over the next couple of days.”

Rodgers largely absolved De Vries of any blame for the goal, despite him being beaten from such a distance. “It was a bit of both,” he said. “At the time I thought, to get beaten from that range, I would need to see it again. I watched it two or three times there and I give credit to [Coulibaly].

“If you actually see the strike, it would be harsh to say anything against the kid. It was an incredible touch, turn and the technique was great. When a goalkeeper is beaten from that range there’s always a question mark but I give applause to the kid because it was a great goal.”