Rodgers is planning for the long haul

CHRIS DAVIES has warned the rest of Scottish football that he and Brendan Rodgers are in for the long haul at Celtic. And the Parkhead No 2 insisted that their team will only get stronger. Since succeeding Ronny Deila last June, Rodgers has transformed the side to the degree that they travel to play St Johnstone tomorrow still unbeaten domestically. Rodgers stressed after the midweek victory over Aberdeen — an 18th straight

triumph — that the relentless attitude he’s trying to foster at the club is designed to serve them well beyond the current campaign. Asked if this was an indication that Rodgers viewed his stewardship lasting four or five years, Davies replied: ‘That’s what Brendan talks about. It’s not just about this season but the seasons ahead. ‘We want to build something here. ‘There is a relentlessness every day and we try to make sure the players take something away from every training session. ‘We are relentless. That’s the word Brendan uses and that sums it up.’ Currently 25 points ahead of Rangers and with just 15 games remaining, the odds on Celtic going an entire league season unbeaten are shortening by the week. Still in line to win the Treble, their stranglehold on the game has never been stronger. And, ominously for the rest of the field, Davies believes the league leaders will get even stronger. ‘We’ve played 23 games and drawn one of them. So the only thing that would be better is 23 wins. ‘But we will do all we can to stay at that level. ‘Brendan and I spoke about the Aberdeen game. Yes, we dominated and deserved to win but how can we do more? ‘We’re still looking to improve, no matter how many games we’ve won.’ Davies, who believes confirmation of a new deal for Craig Gordon is imminent, revealed that a string of injured players are now back in training — but tomorrow’s game may come too soon for them. ‘Moussa (Dembele), Griff (Leigh Griffiths) (Stuart) Armstrong and (Tom) Rogic are doing light training. Eboue (Kouassi) has trained as well. ‘We will assess over the next 24 hours to see where they are all at, because they are at different stages.’