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7 Celtic presser headlines as Brendan Rodgers talks injuries, Luke McCowan Scotland chances and Invincibles comparisons
Brendan Rodgers had plenty to talk about in his Celtic press conference as the Hoops travel to Aberdeen on Wednesday evening - with injuries, transfers, Luke McCowan's form and Luis Palma's future all on the agenda.
The Hoops have the chance to go seven points clear in the Scottish Premiership with a game in hand if they can win in the Granite City, though they'll equally know that their lead could be cut to just one point if Jimmy Thelin's side beat them. It's been a solid season on domestic soil, with their only previous dropped points coming against the Dons back in September - and Rodgers will want that to continue.
But with the games coming thick and fast, and the transfer window fast approaching, there's plenty to consider off the pitch - including a potential Scotland call-up for McCowan after his seamless transition to Parkhead life. Here, Football Scotland takes a look at seven major talking points from Rodgers' press conference.
Injury update
"We’ve only got Scott Bain out, who has a little bit of illness. Apart from that, all our outfield players are ready and available."
The Aberdeen challenge
"It's always a challenge going to Pittodrie. Obviously, they've done very well this season. The last week or so are maybe not the results they would have wanted, but still they've made a very, very good start. Jimmy's done a fantastic job there. They are very structured in how they play, very clear in the process and how they want to work. So, we expect a really tough game."
Luke McCowan hype
"If you look at the likes of Luke McCowan who's only just come in, he's adapted his style in order to play for us. He has a winning mentality, he has great technical quality, tactically he's learning all the time and you see now the clarity in his work and how good he was. He was fantastic for Dundee but was able to come into here and step-by-step throughout a process he's now come in and absolutely been first class.
"He's a learner, there's absolutely no doubt about that. He's got a great career ahead of him. He has all the tools. I think coming in it's not an easy adaptation to come into a big club with a big expectation and pressure. But he's settled in really, really well. He’s now one of us because I see this winning mentality. I see the hunger he has to learn. I see the humbleness every day and how hard he works. He knows whether he comes off the bench or whether he starts a game, the opportunity is there for him to make an impact. It's so important to have guys that are hungry and want to learn.
"I don't think there's any question of that [Scotland call-up]. I think if you look at the tools that he has. International level for me is about technique, tactical idea and having a level of speed that allows you to get around the field. So you'll have some really good players but just maybe aren't quite cut out for that mobility and fast pace at the international level. Luke has that. If I look at him technically, and physically. That was the analysis that we did before bringing him in to see where he was at in terms of his running power, his physicality. So that's there at a really, really high level. So we know he can do that."
The title race
"It's still such a long way to go. At this moment in time if we win the game, ok, you get a bit of a gap against the team behind you. But it's still such a long way to go and so many games. I think it's always nice if you can go to one of your rivals and put in a good performance and get the points. You can only worry about yourself. You can't control what other people think.
"I think you can only go and look to perform. That’s our notion getting into every game. Our objective getting into the game is to work even harder than we did Saturday and perform. So really that's all we can think about. Every game is an opportunity for us to impose our style in the game. We know it will be a tough game. We know the crowd will be very vocal behind their team. It’s still a big opportunity for us. We've played in difficult grounds and difficult atmospheres and coped really well."
Comparisons to the invincible 2016/17 squad
"I think the consistency and the level of the team has been really high. Again, that's great. It was a long time ago, that sort of season. You learn, even as a coach and manager, from all those experiences. But this group of players will be writing their own history. That group then were absolutely brilliant for me. And now the challenge for this group is creating more historical moments as we go along.
"What is always important, like I said, is how we play. And that obviously took a bit of time to get going last year and get us working. Over the last number of months, really, the consistency and the level has been a really high level. So, we just have to keep that going. We're strong defensively and that creates a great platform for all the attacking play."
The transfer window state of play
"We’re definitely looking. There are still areas that I would like to improve in the squad. Absolutely no question about that. We can't do everything in the summer one. We've done a lot of great work there. But there's definitely one or two areas just to, again, give that freshness to the squad as well and give that quality. So, it's important that we keep building. All the players will learn, develop, they'll get better. But you need to always provide competition and that's something I'll always look at."
Luis Palma’s future
"I haven’t seen anything on that but there's nothing really to comment on it. Luis hasn't played a great deal of late. He’s still a part of the squad. There's nothing else more. He's a good guy. It's been difficult for him. Players have come into his position where he's played and done really well. If you look at the goal return of Daizen this year, the pressing and all this side of it.
"He was out for a few weeks injured, then Yang comes in and does really, really well. But he's working hard every day. He's a good guy. He's well liked within the squad. But of course, I can only pick a certain amount of players. But he will continue to work and may get the opportunity as we go along."
