Rodgers issues update on Inamura and Celtic's left-back hunt
Rodgers initially admitted that Inamura would be sent out on loan, but after his early pre-season displays, the Parkhead boss altered his verdict.
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He was then asked today about Inamura, and whether Celtic could dip into the market for a left-back before the close of business.
Rodgers said: "I'm assessing it every day and taking a real close look at certain aspects of his game.
"He's done well, and we have to make sure that by the end of the month, we've got it absolutely right for us going forward into certainly, into the next period.
"In fairness to the boy, as I said, his plan was that he'd just… he'd come in and then probably go out on loan. I mentioned that right at the very beginning. That was the plan for him. But he's come in and coped well. But we'll see over the coming weeks where we're at."
Celtic return to competitive action this Sunday as they welcome St Mirren to Parkhead for their first Scottish Premiership fixture of the campaign.
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Glasgow Times
44 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Brendan Rodgers on Celtic's Champions League shape after St Mirren win
A strike from substitute Luke McCowan with three minutes of regulation time remaining ensured the Scottish champions avoided dropping points at home in their first league game of the new season. But Rodgers stressed that he was happy with his team's display afterwards and singled out the visitors' keeper Shamal George, who pulled off a string of outstanding saves to keep the scoreline level, for special praise. Celtic will discover who they will come up against in the Champions League play-off when the draw is made in Nyon, Switzerland, this morning. Read more: They will find themselves up against Basel or Sturm Graz or the winner of the outstanding ties between Slovan Bratislava and Kairat, Shkendija and Qarabag and Dynamo Kyiv and Pafos. The games will be played on August 19/20 and 26/27. Rodgers, who lost striker Kyogo Furuhashi back in January and winger Nicolas Kuhn during the summer, has admitted that he is keen to strengthen his side in the forward areas. But the Northern Irishman emphasised that he is satisfied with how his team is currently performing. 'To win in the first game of the season is always good and it rounds off a lot of the good work that we've done over pre-season,' he said. 'I'm absolutely pleased with the performance. 'Everyone knows St Mirren and Stephen Robinson's qualities. They're such a hard team to break down. You have to be aware of the threat on the counter-attack, the physicality at set-pieces. All of that we dealt so well with and the keeper's made some brilliant saves, which then keeps the game in the balance. 'At times we moved the ball really well. At other times we could have attacked a wee bit more when we got into certain positions and been a bit more aggressive in the one v one moments. (Image: Andrew Milligan) 'But overall to play against that team, against that system, that's how you've got to work it. Then you need better quality to finish it. I think everyone who was at the game or watched it on TV would say that ([[Celtic]] could have won by three or four). 'Sometimes you need a wee bit of good fortune as well. We didn't quite have that, but some of them hit the post and the bar. You have to give credit to their keeper and to St Mirren. 'Teams aren't just going to roll up here. We see a lot of them. Teams are banked up and tight and compact. You've got to move side to side, to penetrate, to cross, to create half-spaces for crosses, all these things. 'There is no space, it's not a 50-50 game like Newcastle or Sporting Lisbon for example, that you've seen in pre-season. There's no space, it's tight, it's compact and I thought the players came through so well. We got into a lot of good areas. We created a lot today and dominated the game.' Asked for his thoughts about the Champions League play-off double header, Rodgers continued, 'I'm feeling really good. We've had a great, really, really good pre-season. The players are shaping up very well and are working very hard. There's real spirit and solidarity here in the team. So we look forward to that. Read more: 'We know whoever we get it's going to be tough, but it will also be tough for them. And we will accept whatever challenge comes. We'll be ready for the games. Whenever they come, we'll be ready. The players are working very hard. They are always tense games. But we're in a good place and we'll take that game on when it comes.' Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, the Manchester City centre-back, watched the game from the stands and Rodgers is hopeful that Celtic can finalise his season-long loan deal at Parkhead in the coming days. 'We're still waiting for clearance on that one,' he said. 'But he's up here. Obviously, once it's definite, then it'll be announced. But, yes, he's up here and is ready for the move. 'Your centre-halves need to be strong at Celtic. Sometimes you're not doing a great deal. You're stood on the halfway line and you're attacking a lot of the time. But you also need to be able to defend space. That area is always so important in any team. Your centre-halves need to be dominant and we've got really good options there now.' Rodgers feels that he needs to increase competition for places in the front three before the transfer window closes on September 1. 'It's just about improving,' he said. 'There's areas that we want to improve in the forward line. That's something that we hope we can do over these remaining weeks.'
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Tony Bloom claims Hearts can win a title in TEN YEARS as he reveals he put money on Jambos to pip Celtic to 1986 title
The Brighton owner hopes to transform the Tynecastle club and challenge the Old Firm NO KIDD-ING Tony Bloom claims Hearts can win a title in TEN YEARS as he reveals he put money on Jambos to pip Celtic to 1986 title Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NEW Hearts investor Tony Bloom has told supporters how one of the club's darkest days hurt him too – in the pocket. The Brighton chairman was speaking at a fans event after buying a 29 percent share in the Tynecastle club in June. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Tony Bloom was speaking at a Foundation of Hearts event at Tynecastle 4 And he voluntarily brought up one of the darkest days in the club's history Bloom – known as The Lizard – reiterated his desire to compete with Celtic and Rangers for titles and trophies and smash the current Old Firm dominance of Scottish football. But he also brought up one of the worst days in Hearts' history when they famously BLEW the chance to clinch the title in 1986 on the last day of the season. The Jambos needed only a draw away to Dundee to seal their first top division triumph since 1960. But two late goals from Albert Kidd handed the title instead to Celtic who had smashed St Mirren 5-0 in Paisley to top the table on goal difference. It remains one of the darkest days in Hearts' history. And Bloom revealed it was a painful afternoon for him too – as he had BET on the Jambos to win the league at a whopping 8/1. He told supporters at the Foundation of Hearts event: 'Growing up in the 70s and 80s, Scottish football was talked about a lot more in the newspapers (in England) than it is now. 'And so I've always followed Scottish football in different ways. 'When I was growing up it wasn't always an Old Firm show. 'I'm sure a few of you here will remember 1986. Brighton owner Tony Bloom celebrates £750,000 winner as his horse Energumene wins Champion Chase at Cheltenham 'I'm sorry to have mentioned it – maybe that wasn't such a good idea! 'I can't remember his name but I remember someone scoring two very late goals. 'But I remember that season as I had backed Hearts to win the league at around 8/1. 'And going into the last game it was looking very pretty! 'All we needed to do was get a win against Dundee….and it didn't quite happen. 4 Albert Kidd's double denied Hearts the title in 1986 Credit: Scottish News and Sport 'But I've always followed Scottish football and, looking from afar, I don't like the fact that over the last 35 years it's been completely dominated by the Old Firm. "And over the last 15 years apart from one season when Rangers won the league it has been dominated by one club. 'It's not good at all – and I believe I can help make a difference. 'I don't want it to be dominated by just two teams. 'I looked and thought about clubs in Scotland. 'And after I met Ann Budge and Hearts I knew this was the club I wanted to invest in." Bloom reckons Celtic's dominance of the Scottish football landscape isn't healthy. Asked what disrupting the game would mean in his eyes, he replied: "It means that, at the start of each season, the fans and media are not talking about it being a two-runner race. "That will not be the case from now on. "Every game Heart of Midlothian play in, we will play to win. "Every tournament Hearts are in, we are aiming to win it. "I accept the fact that, when we get into the Champions League, that may be a little bit difficult! 'But we have to have belief - big belief in who we are, what we are, our players, our head coach, and everyone at the football club. "I think with the squad of players that sporting director Graeme Jones has helped put together under Derek McInnes, I think we will continue to get stronger year on year.' Bloom has set out a ten-year vision to give Hearts fans a league title to celebrate. He is adamant they topple the Old Firm and lift the Premiership trophy before 2035. Bloom added: "Whether we'd be good enough to win the title, there's obviously no guarantees on that. 'But I will be very disappointed if in the next ten years we don't win at least one title.' 4 Bloom believes Hearts can challenge the Old Firm's dominance Credit: PA Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Brendan Rodgers gives update on Kieran Tierney and shrugs off narrow St Mirren win ahead of Celtic's crunch UCL tie
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BRENDAN RODGERS has vowed Celtic will be ready for their £40million Champions League crunch. Sub Luke McCowan hit the winner against St Mirren this weekend with a deflected shot two minutes from time. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 2 Brendan Rodgers insists he will have this Celtic team ready for their UCL play-off Credit: PA The Euro play-off draw takes place tomorrow and Rodgers said: 'I'm feeling really good. We've had a really good pre-season. The players are shaping up very well and there's real spirit and solidarity in the team. 'We know whoever we get it's going to be tough, but it will also be tough for them. 'We'll be ready for the games. They are always tense matches, but we're in a good place and we'll take that game on when it comes.' Rodgers was happy with his side's display against Stephen Robinson's Saints, despite how long they had to wait for the goal. He added: 'To win in the first game of the season is always good, and it rounds off a lot of the good work we've done over pre-season. 'I'm absolutely pleased with the performance. 'Everyone knows St Mirren and Stephen's coaching qualities. They are such a hard team to break down. 'You have to be aware of the threat on the counter-attack and their physicality at set-pieces. 'All of that we dealt so well with and the keeper's made some brilliant saves, which keeps the game in the balance. 'At times we moved the ball really well. At other times we could have attacked more when we got into certain positions and been more aggressive. Nicolas Kuhn poses for selfies with Celtic fans as he greets team-mates and Brendan Rodgers at Como Cup 'But overall, to play against that team and that system, that's how you've got to work it.' Boss Rodgers hailed Kieran Tierney's display, confirming the defender was only taken off with cramp in the second half. He said: 'He's got a great reception and you see the qualities he has. 'Kieran had a bit of cramp at the end. He hasn't played a lot of football and that's part of managing him through this period.' Celts are set to confirm the signing of defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, 19, who was in the stand watching, on loan from Manchester City. Rodgers added: 'We're still waiting for clearance, but he's up here ready for the move.' Buddies boss Robbo said: 'Defensively, we were superb. We were very well-organised. 'People use that as a slight against St Mirren, but that is one of the basics of management. 'It is disappointing to lose to a deflection. Our level of performance showed that Celtic were trying to waste time in the last five minutes.' 2 Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
