Rodgers tells Brown to decide on future
BRENDAN Rodgers last night urged Celtic captain Scott Brown to make a decision on his future soon following his side’s 3-0 win over Airdrieonians in the fourth round of the William Hill Scottish Cup.
Parkhead captain and midfielder Brown, who turns 34 in June, is out of contract at the end of the season and has been offered a lucrative deal by A League newcomers Western Melbourne.
Western Melbourne stakeholder Maurice Bisetto last week revealed they were “pretty close” with some players – including a marquee signing – and spoke positively about what the former Scotland internationalist would contribute next season.
Rodgers revealed he had talked to Brown, who was outstanding in the centre of the park in the win over League One club Airdrie, about his situation during the week and admitted he would like him to make his mind up imminently.
“I had a long chat with Scott in the week, which will obviously be private, but I think he knows that at some point fairly soon he needs to, and probably wants to, make a decision,” he said. “There has been a lot going on for him.
“It is important for him in his footballing life that he finds that stability. He loves it here and has been here for a long time. We have naturally given him that time as a club to make the best decision for him and his family.
“He is a really good player, a very influential player, and it was good for him to come back. Unfortunately, just before the break he was just getting back. He has worked very hard over these last few weeks. I will think we will probably have a decision in the near future either way, but let’s just wait and see.”
Rodgers also revealed that Kieran Tierney, who is sidelined with a hip injury, won’t return to training until the start of February while Oliver Ntcham will be out for a few more weeks with a hamstring strain.
Meanwhile, the club are set to take action against a fan who invaded the pitch after the final whistle. Report – Pages 2-3
A BRACE of goals from Scott Sinclair secured Celtic’s safe passage to the last 16 of the William Hill Scottish Cup and kept alive their prospects of completing a triple-treble in 2019.
However, it was a double of another kind – debuts for new loan signings Oliver Burke and Timothy Weah – that really captured the attention of the supporters during this routine triumph against lower-league rivals.
Burke, who joined from West Brom earlier this month, started up front for the home team and Weah, who has arrived from Paris SaintGermain, also came on in the secondhalf to make his debut.
The pair will face far more redoubtable opponents than Airdire, a parttime outfit from League One, in the coming months. They showed enough during this outing, though, to suggest they can contribute to the Celtic cause significantly.
Burke, whose preferred position is out wide, had a hand in the opening goal in the first half. Weah, meanwhile, netted shortly after taking to the field. Rodgers was certainly encouraged by both their contributions and his team’s showing.
“I was really pleased with Oliver,” he said. “He didn’t get his goal, but his pace will be a threat for us. His move- ment created the third goal for Timothy. He came short and Timothy made his run and got his goal.
“For Timothy to score on his debut at 18 was great. He is only a boy, but he has clearly got a talent and is a full international. I am sure that he and Oliver will do well for us in the second part of the season.”
Rodgers brought back Emilio Izaguirre at left-back and moved Callum McGregor forward into his preferred position in central midfield alongside Scott Brown. His team, admittedly against less formidable opposition, looked far more settled than they had done in the league defeat to Rangers at Ibrox last month.
His opposite number Ian Murray opted for an unusual formation. He played a midfield diamond in front of a back three with two wide men outside it and a lone striker up top – but it had the desired effect.
The visitors contained their hosts well in the first half and limited their scoring chances without creating many themselves.
Anthony Ralston had an early effort denied by David Hutton and the Airdrie keeper held a James Forrest effort that was struck straight at him after that. But at no stage in the opening half an hour did the lowerleague club look like falling behind.
That perhaps explained their anger at Izaguirre when he went to ground in the Airdrie area following a challenge by Chris O’Neill in the 31st minute. Referee Andrew Dallas pointed to the spot and the defender was quickly surrounded by irate opposing players. Brown raced over to support his team-mate and an almighty stooshie broke out.
After Dallas had calmed the situation down and spoken to both skippers Sean Crighton and Brown, Sinclair stepped up to take the penalty. But Hutton dived to his right and denied him brilliantly with a onehanded save.
Sinclair should have atoned for his miss four minutes l ater after McGregor and Ralston, who took over from Mikael Lustig at right-back, combined well to tee him up a yard out. He somehow managed to shoot over with an empty net beckoning invitingly.
The Englishman, though, finally made amends in the 37th minute. Burke lashed a Forrest cut back at goal and Hutton palmed it straight to Sinclair’s feet. He slotted home from close range.
But Celtic had Scott Bain – given the nod to start for Celtic in goals ahead of Craig Gordon – to thank for ensuring they were ahead going in at half time.
He produced a brilliant triple save from first Josh Edwards then Kyle Wilkie and then Leighton McIntosh after Scott Stewart had played a