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Now or never for some of Rodgers’ squad

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Fitness will be the theme in Austria this week but for a couple of Celtic players the next ten days will go along way towards deciding their future.

Two years into his reign Brendan Rodgers probably still has more players than he would like as he tries to shape up a lean squad of 20 players bolstered by young emerging talents waiting for their chance.

Ewan Henderson, Stephen Welsh, Regan Hendry and Kerr McInroy can supply the youthful element with upto half a dozen players needing to pull out the stops to be part of the season ahead.

Despite impressing out on loan at Hibs and Aberdeen it’s highly likely that Scott Allan and Ryan Christie will be following Liam Henderson out the door.

While Rodgers will analyse everything coming back from the training ground it’ll be in matches that players have to prove their worth.

Once Celtic return from Austria they will be straight into a routine of midweek European matches where no experiments can be taken.

Weekend matches will be for the fringe men, the A-Team will be involved midweek with no margin for error as Rodgers aims for a third successive season in the group phase of the Champions League- and a windfall of close to £40m.

JOZO SIMUNOVIC

Was the main fall guy from the 4-0 defeat at Tynecastle with Kris Ajer grabbing his chance to nail down a starting spot.

A very unfortunate red card at Ibrox effectively ended his season with his Celtic career no further forward than it was a year ago.

There is still uncertainty over who is likely to be handed the central defensive which does open the door for the former Dinamo Zagreb man.

With another artificial pitch in the top flight next season at Livingston Simunovic’s prospects of regaining a regular place have slightly lengthened.

MARVIN COMPPER

Who knows if the dynamic new look of the hair-cropped 33-year-old will deliver on the promise and expectations that his signing created just six months ago.

It started to unravel when he picked up an injury in the winter training camp in Dubai, perhaps Austria will prove to be more favourable?

The players and partnership in central defence is very much open but after managing just 83 minutes of action since his arrival in January Compper has it all to do.

The former RB Liepzig defender turned 33 last week, time looks to be running against him making an impression at Celtic.

EBOUE KOUASSI

Looked like he had played his way into the side following the winter break but disappeared after the 3-0 Europa League defeat away to Zenit St Petersburg.

His displays in the home wins over Hearts and Zenit left an impression on the support who had questioned the wisdom of spending £2m on a teenager coming in from a Russian club.

A loan deal was likely in January until Celtic ran into a run of injuries, that option is again being discussed and looks likely if John McGinn is signed from Hibs.

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