No regrets for Rodgers over changes as Celtic stall

● Home points dropped ahead of Euro tie

Brendan Rodgers insisted he had no regrets over fielding a radically changed starting line-up against St Johnstone as Celtic dropped two points at home to the struggling Perth side.

Ahead of this week’s Europa League last 32, second leg trip to face Zenit St Petersburg, Rodgers made seven changes to his side.

In addition to suspended captain Scott Brown, a number of first team regulars including Jozo Simunovic, Kieran Tierney, James Forrest and Moussa Dembele were named among the substitutes as the champions were held to a goalless stalemate by Saints.

Mikael Lustig and Olivier Ntcham missed out through injury and illness respectively but should be available on Thursday night as Rodgers’ squad take a 1-0 lead into the European return fixture in Russia.

Celtic still enjoy a healthy nine-point lead at the top of the Premiership, albeit not as commanding as the remarkable 27-point gap they had opened up at the same stage of last season.

“You have to be careful with so many big games and a big game on Thursday,” said Rodgers.

“Kieran, for example, has played nearly two seasons in one and I have to take the opportunities to give him a breather. After Thursday he has Aberdeen next Sunday and more big games follow from there.

“Scott is suspended, Mikael has a niggle on his Achilles that we couldn’t risk and Oliver was ill and couldn’t play.

“It was still a strong team we fielded. It was young, but strong and we just couldn’t