Commons earns right to fondest off are wells from his Paradise lost

BRENDAN RODGERS concedes he may be tempted to give the departing Kris Commons a farewell appearance — if he can get himself fit between now and the end of the season.

Commons, a fans’ favourite and former Scottish Player of the Year, has not played a single minute of football for Celtic this season after being informed last summer his style of play would need to radically change if he was to fit in under the new boss.

The 33-year-old emerged from cold storage during an emergency loan spell at Hibernian, which saw him play five times and score twice for his old boss Neil Lennon between December and January.

While Rodgers’ greater priority will be to give first-team exposure to youngsters like Jack Aitchison during the remaining four league fixtures, he admits that, if Commons can shake off a back problem, there will be a temptation to grant him a runout before his contract expires.

‘I am sentimental, but not oversentimental, so we’ll just wait and see,’ said Rodgers. ‘The most important thing for Kris at the minute is getting fit. He was outside doing some jogging this week, so we’ll see how it goes.

‘My job is to win games and play well and we’re obviously looking to the future now, so there will be different players who will play over the course of the next number of games.

‘I don’t like to forecast that sort of thing but I spoke to Kris on the subject earlier in the season. You have to respect someone who’s played the games he has here. He had a great impact.’

Commons (below) signed for Celtic in January 2011 and immediately showed his knack for the spectacular by scoring from distance on his debut against Aberdeen in the semi-final of the League Cup.

He was part of the team that reached the last 16 of the Champions League in season 2012/13 and, a year later, was named the country’s top player at the end of a wonderful season in which he scored 32 goals.

His star waned under Lennon’s successor Ronny Deila, and the arrival of Rodgers last summer effectively brought an end to active service for the attacking midfielder.

‘Unfortunately, the team has taken on a different dynamic this season but we’ve always talked openly and well,’ continued Rodgers.

‘He’s been brilliant. To be fair, he knew exactly where he stood on the very first day of the very first week when I came in, so there were no grey areas.

‘He’s a good guy, I like him, and when he does finish playing he probably has a career in coaching in him.

‘He has been a fantastic servant for Celtic — being a supporter of the club I know what he has done in his time here, so he will go with the respect of myself.’

Although Commons’ relationships with both Lennon and Deila seemed prone to aggravation, Rodgers claims he has had no issues with the player.

He insisted: ‘His behaviour has been exceptional. Superb. Never a minute’s problem. We’ve sat in my office over a cup of tea and talked coaching, talked about other things — he knows the game and plays it really well.

‘I’ve obviously explained how I like my team to play, collectively how it has to work, but ultimately it has been a season of frustration for fitness for him as much as anything.

‘He went out and got some games with Hibs and you have to

‘HE HAS BEEN A FANTASTIC SERVANT FOR CELTIC IN HIS TIME HERE’

respect he’s in this last part of his career with Celtic and he has to think of the future.’ While Commons’ future may well lie in the technical area, Rodgers believes he still has something tangible to offer on the field. And he believes he would be a particularly handy signing for another Scottish club. Finance prevented Lennon from extending Commons’ loan in January but, with Hibs now promoted to the Premiership and Commons set to become a free agent, the Edinburgh club may pursue a fresh deal. ‘Kris has one thing which every team strives for, especially up here, and that’s quality,’ added Rodgers. ‘As they get older, players will tell you that they slow up a wee bit with certain movements but, until he’s 70, Kris will have a great left foot. ‘It’s a wand. I’ve seen that in training.’