Rodgers in the hunt for two strikers

CELTIC manager Brendan Rodgers wants to sign two strikers in January t o cope with t he absence of Leigh Griffiths.

The 28-year-old, who has 104 goals for the club, is out of football for an unspecified period as he deals with “multiple personal problems” which leaves Celtic with Odsonne Edouard their only senior centre-forward.

Rodgers has been promised significant funds to spend next month and, after two disappointing transfer windows f or t he cl ub, t he manager said they cannot be allowed to fall short of targets again.

“There’s no doubt that we might need two because we wanted three strikers,” he said. “We know we can’t go through the number of games we have and at the intensity at which we play, with the same striker. We will definitely look at that. It’s always been a focus but this narrows our focus.

“It’s about availability. January is a very hard window in which to get players in. But we will definitely have to reinforce.”

Rodgers admitted that he would consider a loan deal but would prefer bringing in someone on a permanent basis as he is still missing Moussa Dembele who left for Lyon in August.

“We have to look at whatever is available really,” he said. “It’s hard because if a team have four strikers and they play with a front two they probably don’t want to lose any of them in case they get an injury and are down to three so it’s just going to be about availability.”

Rodgers paid tribute to Griffiths who scored the first goal of their Europa League campaign when he came off the bench to grab a late winner against Rosenborg in Glasgow.

“Leigh has played his part, absolutely. He set us on the road,” he said. “All the goals were important. All the victories added to the nine points.

“Rosenborg showed that they are a good side too going to Leipzig and getting the point there. It was a tough group with two Champions League teams in Leipzig and Salzburg.”