The Hoops return to Celtic Park tomorrow (Saturday) as Hearts visit in the first game following the international break. It was a break with a difference for club captain, Callum McGregor, though, and, for that matter, for the manager as well, as he had the availability of the skipper following the Celt’s retirement from international football. Brendan Rodgers said of Callum McGregor being there during the break: “He did great, he had a few days away, he looks fresh – he looked amazing. He did some training and we gave him some recovery time, and hopefully he can keep his sequence of goals continuing. ‘He’s an absolutely brilliant player for us and a real leader on the pitch, so it’s nice to have him about, but most importantly, having him fresh, and now he’s ready to go for the next six games.’ “What I love about Callum is, that it’s also what this club brings you. Celtic is a culture of winning, and to be a winner there’s a process in that, and that process is training. “And when you’re in the programme for long enough, what you’ll be is a player who is super-fit, intense and consistent – and that’s Callum McGregor. “That all comes from being a Celtic player. Because you need the intensity to be here, you need the focus. You get that fitness. “That is like the other Celtic boys here, the likes of Tony Ralston, Steven Welsh, James Forrest – that’s what they bring. “And Callum, as the captain, really typifies what being a Celtic player is.”The manager, though, didn’t reserve his praise only for those who have come through the ranks in the East End of Glasgow. He also waxed lyrical when asked about a player who was raised over 7,000km from Celtic Park, Canadian internationalist, Alistair Johnston The manager said: “He possesses so many qualities – his hunger to win, he has a robustness, his power, his strength and he is hard to beat in one-v-one. “And he now totally understands how I want him to work, so he is now able to release himself, and can march, he can go forward and test the mentality of his marker. “And you see him now, he’s scoring goals and creating goals. But, ultimately, he can defend well. “He has that hunger to defend, and he’s a really good guy, so I really enjoy working with him, and he will still only get better. “When you think of his journey back home, and then in the MLS, and then to here and being an international player, so he’s only going to improve and I can see that in him in my time here.” The manager will send his team out against a Hearts side who haven’t had their troubles to seek in the results department this term despite a positive showing last season. However, Brendan Rodgers and his players know these are early days yet, and Steven Naismith’s have the ability to turn the tide. The Irishman said: “In terms of points, it’s probably been a challenge for Steven, and obviously European football as well. “But they will improve, it’s still very early on in the season. I believe I’m right in saying Steven signed a new contract in the summer, so he feels clearly appreciated and wanted by the club. “So they clearly want him and they want him to continue with the work, they are a big club, so they’ll be expected to improve. “I’m pretty sure they will, so, for me, we just have to be ready for a really good game, we’re in the mood to keep our performance level as high as we possibly can, and I can see us making it really, really difficult for them in the game tomorrow.” The manager’s full press conference: Coming back after the break Arne Engels making his international debut Strength-in-depth for the squad Freshness and energy in the pool Celtic’s defensive strategy Reo Hatate’s international hopes FixturesCeltic Vs. Heart of Midlothian – Sat, Sep 14th 2024, 15:00
Trending Now
