RODGERS OPEN TO IZAGUIRRE STAY

BRENDAN RODGERS has opened the door to Emilio Izaguirre earning a contract extension at Celtic. The Honduran has impressed Rodgers by taking over from Kieran Tierney after the firstchoice left-back suffered ankle-ligament damage likely to keep him out until after Christmas. Izaguirre, who joined the Parkhead club from Motagua in his homeland six years ago, is out of contract at the end of the season. Asked if he would like the 30-year-old to stay so Celtic would still have two international leftbacks competing for the role, Rodgers replied: ‘That’s the idea, to have the competition. ‘We have one with experience and one with youthfulness. So it is a perfect balance.’ Tierney’s excellent form meant Izaguirre had made only two appearances this season prior to the 19-year-old Scotland cap suffering his injury in training. But Rodgers added: ‘He has been very good since coming back into the team. It is a testament to how hard he has been working. ‘A lot of the guys who have been playing regularly have got a lot of credit and quite rightly so. ‘But they have only been so good because there are a lot of guys in behind them who have been pushing them every day. ‘I was really pleased with the defensive part of his game. I think he is renowned more for going forward but he has defended strongly. It is great for him.’ Tierney underwent an operation on his ankle on Thursday, while Kolo Toure also remains sidelined. Leigh Griffiths and Jozo Simunovic are, however, restored to the squad for today’s visit from Inverness Caley Thistle. Richie Foran’s team are the only domestic opponent to have denied Celtic victory this season, earning a thrilling last-gasp 2-2 draw back in September. And the manner in which his side were denied a perfect record still irritates Rodgers. ‘Yeah, I think that was a game we should have won, one we should have been very comfortable in,’ he added. ‘Especially in the second half when we created a lot of good chances. ‘But fair play to Inverness. ‘They kept going and they nicked a goal late on.’