Who are the kids Brendan Rodgers will play against Partick Thistle?

Brendan Rodgers has promised to use some of Celtic’s Academy kids against Partick Thistle tomorrow night.

No names and no numbers have been revealed by the Celtic boss but wherever he looks there are plenty of options to chose from.

Key to the development of the younger players this season has been the experience of playing in the u-19 Champions League.

Whenever youth teams lose results take second place to gaining experience, with six matches against Barcelona, Manchester City and Borussia Monchengladbach Celtic’s u-19 squad have learned more than they are likely to pick up in a domestic season.

Rodgers takes a keen note of what is happening below the first team and recently made a point of praising the side that lost 3-2 to Manchester City after going into a 2-0 lead.

Taking that praise forward into providing first team places is a different matter but the Celtic boss hasn’t been afraid of making big decisions so far in his tenure.

Kieran Tierney has demonstrated the standards required for young players stepping up, whoever gets their chance tomorrow will be more than capable of following in KT’s footsteps.

CALVIN MILLER

Was given the burden of being voted world young player of the year from a rather dubious source.

Last season he was used as the sole striker and toiled a bit, especially when he was on his own against Martin Canning of Hamilton Accies.

This season he has been put into the wide midfield role and recently also at left-back. He has pace to burn and throws in a mean cross from the left

KRISTOFFER AJER

It must have been a bit of a shock to his system to move from captaining the Start first team in Norway to playing in the various Celtic underage sides.

Ajer seemed to impress Rodgers in pre-season when he switched into defence rather than his preferred midfield role.

It seems likely that the young Norwegian will go out on loan in January with a taste of first team action.

JACK AITCHISON

Made his mark on the final day of last season with a debut goal against Motherwell.

All of a sudden expectations were raised which is asking a lot of a 16-year-old playing at u-20 and u-23 level.

Aitchison impressed in the u-23 Premier League International Cup tie away to Aston Villa and featured in the early season friendly against Inter Milan.

ANTHONY RALSTON

Was given a couple of substitute appearances last season and given a run in the BetFred Cup tie against Motherwell earlier this season.

Ralston’s game came on leaps and bounds after going to Queens Park in the first part of last season but picked up an injury that curtailed his season.

The emergence of Kieran Tierney has set an exceptional standard for others to reach. Ralston enjoys getting forward whenever he can but is also strong in the tackle and enjoys defending.