Rodgers: We are in great shape for trip to Pittodrie

BRENDAN RODGERS last night predicted Celtic will be in perfect shape for their Ladbrokes Premiership match with nearest rivals Aberdeen on Saturday after he rested no fewer than eight first team players in their win over Ross County.

Celtic, who still have a game in hand, forged seven points clear of Aberdeen at the top of the top flight table thanks to a resounding 4-0 triumph at the Global Energy Stadium despite fielding a second string side.

Rodgers believes giving many of his regulars a rest - including Scott Brown after his captain became a father for the third time on Tuesday night – will ensure they are in peak condition for the meeting with their second-placed opponents at Pittodrie this weekend.

“The thinking going into the game here was that we had played a lot of matches,” he said. “We ask the players to play at a very intensive level in the attacking areas. We need that high up the pitch and the players who came in delivered that.

“It was a tough game. Ross County are one of the best teams we’ve played. We kept a clean sheet and as good teams do we started the game quickly and finished strongly and produced a very good performance.

“They’ll be fresh for the weekend and that was the plan. It couldn’t have gone any better. The game was played at a good tempo. We know Aberdeen will be a hard game – all the games have been that way. The scoreline looks good, but that’s a credit to the players for their spirit, work and quality.

“Every single one of them is totally fit. I wanted to give one or two of them a rest. They are all fit and they are all playing at a real tempo. I gave a rest to Scotty Brown. He became a father again, for the third time, last night.

“He is getting together his wee five-aside football team. That is three boys he’s got now. He wanted to come. I said, ‘Listen, look after your wife, family is more important than football’. It is nice for him to get a breather.

“He is going to go into the game super fit and fresh and strong and now a father of three. They are all feeling good. He