Eoghan O’Connell had two loan spells cut short by injury last season
but is back to full fitness and involved in the four match tour of Slovenia.
His emergence co-incided with the arrival of Jason Denayer on loan and there could be no real argument from him about breaking up the Denayer-Virgil van Dijk partnership.
When Gordon Strachan took over from Martin O’Neill he discovered that Stephen McManus was ready to step up and solve a problem with O’Connell now in a similar position for Rodgers.
In his only top team outing last term, early in the season at Tannadice, the bhoy from Cork strolled through the game with something to spare as Celtic enjoyed a comfortable win in-between the Malmo ties.
