Kwon Hyeok-kyu or Mitchel Frame- what was Brendan Rodgers’ Saturday messaging all about?

Among the many mysteries of Saturday was the disappearance of Mitchel Frame and the return of Kwon Hyeuk-kyu to the Celtic squad.

With 15 minutes to go against Feyenoord Frame was handed his first team debut, replacing Luis Palma on the left wing, bringing a surprise maturity and enthusiasm to the side. The fans loved it.

Callum McGregor and others praised Frame, perhaps a glimpse to the future with the supply of players from the Academy slowing to a halt.

UEFA rules on squad sizes opened the door for Frame, he hasn’t been in any domestic squad but with restrictions on players from outwith Scotland he got his chance against Feyenoord.

A night to remember ??

Congratulations to Mitchel Frame who made his first-team debut during tonight’s #UCL victory at Paradise! ?#CelticFC?#COYBIG pic.twitter.com/MKkB18XgRy

— Celtic FC B (@CelticFCB) December 13, 2023

Good new stories at Celtic are thin on the ground but when Saturday came around Frame found himself on the plastic pitch at Airdrie, playing in the Lowland League as East Kilbride beat Celtic B for the third time this season.

There are two less substitute places in the SPFL than in UEFA matches but having made it onto the pitch against Feyenoord surely Frame was worthy of one of the nine substitute places against Hearts?

Not according to Brendan Rodgers. As well as dropping Frame he brought in Kwon yeok-kyu, not seen near a squad since August, his last taste of club football was in July playing in the South Korean Second Division.

Rodgers has history for using team-sheets to send his messages to the Celtic board, in August 2018 Jack Hendry and Eboue Koussi were thrown straight into the team that started away to Hearts, losing 1-0 to a goal from Kyle Lafferty. Six months later the manager left for Leicester.

Whatever message Rodgers is trying to send out about his squad he didn’t do his case any favours when he told The Sun in June about the brilliant work being carried out by Mark Lawwell:

One thing I’ll start by saying the recruitment team – Michael [Nicholson, CEO] took me through the structure.

Since I was here I can see the clear change in the infrastructure and the team behind the football team.

Mark has done a brilliant job with the recruitment – you can see the market the club is operating in. He’s done a great job bringing in the players which fit the profile of Celtic.

We’ll soon find out if Lawwell Mini can bring in the players badly required by Rodgers or whether he has Daddy’s disastrous eye for a player.

? Your #CelticFC side to face Hearts! ??#CELHEA | #cinchPrem | #COYBIG? pic.twitter.com/xBzSd8DBCo

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) December 16, 2023