Rodgers proud of the key role played by ‘mentor’ Toure

REGARDLESS of the result, there will be at least one Invincible celebrating on the Celtic Park turf today.

A member of Arsenal’s unbeaten Premier League campaign of 2003-04, Kolo Toure arrived in Scotland with little to prove but plenty of big-game knowledge to share.

Now 36, the defender (right) has been reduced to the role of fringe player for much of the campaign, but Brendan Rodgers insists his influence has been vital as his team has motored through the domestic campaign without defeat.

Provided they emerge unscathed from this afternoon’s final league game against Hearts, Rodgers’ players will receive the trophy having become the first team in well over a century to navigate a Scottish season without defeat.

No matter the result, Toure can be expected to perform his trademark dance for the crowd and there will be a special salute for the Ivorian from the manager, who previously brought him on board at Liverpool. ‘Kolo has had a big influence right through the season,’ said Rodgers. ‘He’s a guy who knows where he’s at right now. He maybe hasn’t played as much as some thought but he knows the importance of his role here. ‘In terms of his professionalism, he’s been brilliant and you saw how he celebrated in the changing room at Hearts after winning the title.’

A big influence on the likes of Kieran Tierney, Jozo Simunovic and Dedryck Boyata at Lennoxtown, Toure has been used sparingly since struggling in a Champions League defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach last October.

However, Rodgers insists the plan was always to use the former Arsenal man in a largely mentoring role.

He added: ‘I was clear with Kolo when he came in. I wanted him to help us get to the Champions League group stage for the first time in a few years and to provide support for our young centre-halves, to lend them his experience.

‘It’s been great for our younger players to see a guy who’s an incredible role model, who has been a super player at the highest level in England.

‘He’s been a champion wherever he’s been and an international team player. He’s a leader.’

Depending on Aberdeen’s result against Partick Thistle, Celtic could win the league by 33 points, a margin that would set a new European record. However, you sense remaining undefeated is more important to Rodgers.

‘Thankfully, I have a group of players who have responded to how we wanted to play, he said.

‘You can’t fix what you don’t have but what you can do is energise, engage and motivate them, get them to commit to something.

‘That is why we are where we are at this stage of the season.’

He added: ‘I’m in a great place. I couldn’t be happier anywhere in the world right now. I genuinely mean that.’