Brendan Rodgers told Celtic miss Jota factor but ‘frightening’ impact can be remedied with transfer market cures
The former Celtic defender reckons there’s no need for panic on the transfer front for the champions
Charlie Mulgrew reckons it’s not a Celtic transfer overhaul Brendan Rodgers needs but just a handful of effective signings.
And the former Hoops man is not hitting the panic button after Sunday’s shock Viaplay Cup exit to Kilmarnock, with Rodgers’ hopes of another Treble in Glasgow dashed at the first hurdle. The Irishman himself alluded to the need for more ‘quality’ within his Parkhead ranks after falling in Ayrshire, with six new recruits already brought in this summer since his return. Two of which, Maik Nawrocki and Gustaf Lagerbielke, were the unlikely defensive pairing at the back at Rugby Park.
But Mulgrew reckons there is a point to be raised about how some of the signings made under previous boss Ange Postecoglou were done to fit the Aussie’s rigid system. The former Dundee United star believes it is time for Rodgers to be backed to do the same, but swerved the idea of an overhaul needed. He insists two or three new faces in the squad would do the trick, but that the champions do miss the exciting play of a star like Jota.
He told Clyde 1 SSB: “Brendan Rodgers will know he needs players in that are going to suit, he needs two or three more signings and that can make all the difference. You speak about the players that didn’t play yesterday, Jota, we played against him last year and the game was tight but he was the one to make something happen. He would get the crowd going, change the game and make it happen, the difference he made in the games was frightening.
“Two or three more signings can make all the difference. Yesterday was the perfect storm, Kilmarnock had nothing to lose and were high on confidence after a few good results. New signings, all fitting in to the system and Celtic were a bit depleted.”
When quizzed about the effectiveness of the likes of Sead Haksabanovic, Giorgos Giakoumakis and Liel Abada last season, he added: “A lot of those players you mentioned are Ange signings.
“So they came with the confidence that the manager signed them to do a specific role and play in the team, having the confidence of that. Now there’s a new manager there so he should be given the same finances to buy his own players that suit his system.”
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Brendan Rodgers Provides Update on Stephen Welsh’s Injury Timeline
Celtic fans were expecting to see Stephen Welsh feature on Sunday after the young defender penned a new contract last Friday.
However, manager Brendan Rodgers has now provided a more detailed update on Welsh’s injury, revealing a longer recovery period than initially reported.
Speaking about the unfortunate incident, Rodgers said [Viaplay], “It’s just really unfortunate for Stephen. Right at the end of training, he landed awkwardly, and he ruptured the ligaments in his ankle which will mean he needs an operation.” This development has set back Welsh’s return timeline significantly, with Rodgers estimating a recovery period of “around three to four months”, not the two months that was reported in the press.
This news comes as a blow to both the player and the team. Welsh had shown promise in his pre-season appearances.
His absence will be felt as Celtic navigates its fixtures in the coming months, especially with injuries already hampering the backline.
Rodgers expressed his sympathy for the young defender, acknowledging the timing of the injury as particularly unfortunate given Welsh’s recent contract extension and his anticipated role in the match against Kilmarnock.
Celtic’s medical team will undoubtedly be working closely with Welsh to ensure a smooth recovery process. In the meantime, Rodgers and his squad will need to adjust their strategies and line-ups to compensate for the loss of the defender.
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