Rave reviews from Rodgers gave Ross boost he required

JACK ROSS gained plaudits and a pal from two visits in one season to Parkhead in his early days as a manager. Now he’s plotting to take points from Celtic to continue Hibernian’s revival.

Brendan Rodgers was effusive in his praise for Ross’s part-time Alloa team after they held Celtic for 83 minutes of a League Cup tie in September 2016.

Late goals from James Forrest and Moussa Dembele separated the sides on a night in which

Craig Gordon was fortunate to escape a red card for a wild challenge on Greig Spence.

Six months later, Ross returned with St Mirren, who were bottom of the Championship, and led a Scottish Cup quarter-final tie 1-0 until the hour before losing 4-1.

Much praise about the approach of both visiting teams was aired by Rodgers, who subsequently invited Ross to Celtic training and provided advice at key times of his fledgling managerial career.

‘It was good for me early on to have a recommendation from someone like him, who is a good manager,’ admitted Ross. ‘And it was nice to be able to go toe-totoe with his team over two games, even if we lost them.

‘You’re coming up against managers who you know are good at what they do and it’s always good to be able to test yourself against them.

‘Brendan was really good with me after the Alloa game. He said that if there was anything I needed, just to let him know.

‘On the back of the St Mirren game, I went to Lennoxtown a couple of times. Once I went to watch them train and Brendan gave up loads of his time. And the time after, I just went up for a coffee and a chat.

‘I was coming to the end of my time at St Mirren and knew I was probably going to move and we spoke about that. When you go into coaching or management, you probably need certain moments to happen for you and certain things to fall your way.

‘The circumstances were that Alloa had a good cup run, drew Celtic and performed well on the night. Those little bits of fate go your way and help you get some attention as a manager when the team does okay.

‘We lost but had good moments in both games and that gave me an injection of confidence as a manager that I was on the right path with how I saw the game.

‘It’s worked at times. As a young manager, you do need that confidence boost sometimes as it can be a brutal industry.

‘People are constantly questioning what you’re doing and whether you’re good enough to do it. So, when you get those lifts along the way, it does help.’

The profile of Ross has since been raised by a spell at Sunderland and a swift return to the dugout with Hibernian.

So he is back at Parkhead with less of an underdog mentality and confident that improving Hibs can continue their good form at the home of the champions.

‘This is a very different occasion,’ he insisted. ‘I’ve gained a lot of experiences over the last year and a half in big matches and in big stadiums. So this feels a bit more normal for me now.

‘This one will be different again; I’m with a different team, facing a different manager and in the league for the first time.

‘Whenever you go to play the champions and the top team in the country that’s always the same. There’s an element of having to believe you can go there and get a positive result.

‘But I believe we have the ability to do that. We’re a good side and have shown that in recent weeks. Right now, they’re feeling good about themselves.’

Ryan Porteous certainly comes into that category as he prepares to face former boss Neil Lennon for the first time.

Injury last season and suspensions in this campaign have prevented the 20-year-old from playing against Celtic for a year.

Twelve months ago, he was in Lennon’s side that comfortably beat Celtic 2-0 at Easter Road and recent performances have seen Porteous earn a Scotland call-up and return to form.

‘Ryan has the potential to be the best I’ve played with,’ said standin skipper Paul Hanlon. ‘Hopefully he goes on and has a great career. And, hopefully, for me he stays at Hibs.

‘He is great to play alongside — all action and desperate to get involved. You have to rein him in sometimes. He has a massive future ahead of him.’