Brendan’s young team

Brendan Rodgers is putting the emphasis on youth with a Celtic side that looks like sticking together for as long as the manager remains in Glasgow.

With Rodgers a year into a four year contract players such as Tom Rogic, Odsonne Edouard and Kris Ajer have signed long term contracts that provides the hoops with some sort of security as they plan ahead.

Recruiting young players to develop alongside emerging talents coming through the ranks has served the Irishman well as he comes to terms with his fifth transfer window.

Stability is a rarity in the modern game as the events at Ibrox prove, Steven Gerrard has already brought in seven new players with the same number again needed if a proper challenge is to be put together.

That policy relies on all of the players settling in straight away which rarely happens in the real world away from pre- season training camps.

Rodgers’ success domestically and in reaching the group phase of the Champions League has brought him time to do things his way with no more than three new faces expected during this transfer window.

Experienced names from England with some past connection to Rodgers are bound to be mentioned but it’s more likely that another Olivier Ntcham or Ajer is being lined up for a move to the seven times champions.

CONNOR HAZARD

Stretching things a little to find an u-25 keeper but with the players in front of him young Hazard shouldn’t be kept too busy.

He has been in Scotland for four years now and won his first full international cap at the end of last season for the north east of Ireland.

A loan spell at Falkirk last season introduced him to the reality of the professional game, getting fixed up for a season long loan would accelerate his development and readiness to step in to the Celtic first team.

ANTHONY RALSTON

A massive season coming up for the full-back he went through a lot last season.

Brendan Rodgers put him into the team ahead of Cristian Gamboa but shortly after playing against Neymar in the Champions League he picked up a knee injury that ended his contribution at Celtic.

It was a minor surprise when he went on loan to Dundee United, there could be an opening coming up at right back but there may also be a new signing.

JACK HENDRY

Arrived at a strange time and wasn’t helped by being cup-tied in his final match as a Dundee player.

He rarely got a chance to play in central defence but made substitute appearances at Ibrox and Pittodrie that suggests he has the attitude to succeed this time around.

There is a Scotland international career available to Hendry but first of all he has the harder task of getting into the Celtic side.

KRIS AJER

Alongside Olivier Ntcham the young Norwegian was the best discovery of last season.

Things looked challenging for him after a tough night in Astana but he got a few games at right-back then grasped his opportunity in central defence following the 4-0 horror show at Tynecastle.

With a new long term contract secured he can go on to become a big influence at Celtic next season, perhaps becoming Ronny Deila’s most successful signing!

KIERAN TIERNEY

Very difficult to believe that he has just turned 21 when you add up his honours haul and achievements.
KT has upped his game every season and is now the benchmark for every young player at the club to aspire to.

Scott Brown will retain the captaincy for a while yet but Tierney also fulfils that role, demonstrating every aspect of the game needed in the modern full-back.

OLIVIER NTCHAM

What a debut season the Frenchman had, it’s hard to believe that he only turned 22 in February.

The midfield slot beside Scott Brown has plenty of candidates but long before his Hampden somersault against Motherwell Ntcham had become that player.

There is still lots to come from the one time Manchester City man, the first signing of last summer certainly made his mark on the team- and opponents.

JOHN MCGINN

It’s almost an open secret that he is bound for Celtic with the speculation cranked up a notch with Stuart Armstrong on his way to Southampton.

The Hibs midfielder is the best player in Scotland outside of Celtic but Jonny Hayes arrived a year ago with the same tag.

Brendan Rodgers is a known admirer of the industrious midfielder, if he makes the move to Celtic Rodgers clearly has a role in mind.

MIKEY JOHNSTON

Has shown a lot of promise and will be looking to make the big breakthrough in the season ahead.

He signed off in style in the Scott Brown testimonial then scored a stunning goal for Scotland at the Toulon u-21 tournament.

Johnston has got all the natural tricks that you could wish for and has added pace and strength to take him to the brink of the first team picture.

CALLUM MCGREGOR

The old man of the side having just turned 25 following his most influential season at Celtic.

He has always had the trust of Brendan Rodgers, his versatility has helped him to well over 100 appearances laced with a number of vital goals.

Any distance upto 20 yards from goal is fair game to McGregor who found the net against Bayern Munich and Zenit St Petersburg to add to his domestic haul.

LEWIS MORGAN

Has came across as very assured since sealing his move to Celtic, he returned to St Mirren and continued to be the driving force in their successful promotion campaign.

While Leigh Griffiths’ training ground goal last week drew gasps of admiration Morgan provided a more than acceptable assist in that goal.

Scott Sinclair has real competition for his place on the left with the former St Mirren man also able to play in a more central role or on the right flank.

ODSONNE EDOUARD

Expectations have changed greatly for the last minute loan signing that is now the club’s record signing.

On his own or in a pairing the former Paris Saint Germain prospect looks a handful with the bonus of a poachers instinct around goal.

His status and popularity among the Celtic support is assured- now he has the task of outscoring Moussa Dembele and Leigh Griffiths.