AUSSIE KID ARZANI ON HIS WAY TO PARKHEAD

and Socceroos team-mate Tom Rogic played a key role in persuading him to commit to Celtic. The Parkhead club also remain hopeful of landing Hibs midfielder John McGinn — despite interest from Brighton — with the Scotland international keen to move along the M8. Reiterating a desire to strengthen his squad after losing Stuart Armstrong and Patrick Roberts, manager Brendan Rodgers said: ‘Yes, most definitely. Essentially I am working with the players we have. They are outstanding talents and have been great for me over the last two years but there is no doubt we need to strengthen, the club are very much aware of that. ‘It is important for the supporters but it is also very important for the players. They need that help with so many games in the season but we are confident we’ll get some good work done.’ Asked about three bids for McGinn, all of them rejected, Rodgers added: ‘It is between the clubs. It is something that they will hopefully look to conclude but at this minute John is a Hibs player and is doing very well for them.’ Kieran Tierney, meanwhile, is a major injury doubt for Celtic’s league opener with Livingston this afternoon. The left-back limped out of Wednesday’s Champions League draw with Rosenborg, but Rodgers played down talk of a lay-off by putting the Scotland international’s removal down to cramp. Speaking on Thursday, the Celtic manager — already missing striker Moussa Dembele — said Tierney would be assessed before today’s kick-off. Skipper Scott Brown is also struggling with an Achilles problem — but expects to play.

CELTIC are poised to tie up a two-season loan deal for Australian World Cup winger Daniel Arzani before facing AEK Athens in the Champions League on Wednesday. The 19-year-old playmaker was in England last night undergoing a medical before a £280,000 permanent move to Manchester City. And an agreement is already in place for the Melbourne City teenager to head north as soon as the Parkhead club push through a work-permit application. The Scottish champions will incorporate an option to buy Arzani on a permanent basis if the move works out for both sides. The youngster made three cameo appearances for Australia in the World Cup finals in Russia and had offers from French club Rennes and Bundesliga 2 outfit Fortuna Dusseldorf. It’s understood compatriot TURN TO PAGE 117, COL 2