It seems reports of a Celtic ‘blip’ following their goalless draw at Tannadice just before Christmas were greatly exaggerated. Though talk of remaining calm and resisting the urge to panic among the support did rather amuse manager Brendan Rodgers.

As a hugely successful year for Celtic draws to a close with St Johnstone’s visit to Glasgow’s east end tomorrow, it is a natural juncture for Rodgers to reflect on where his side have come from to sit where they are now, comfortably back on top of the Premiership and indeed, the Scottish game.

Celtic have only lost twice so far in 2024, once away to Hearts in March, and then to Borussia Dortmund in this season’s Champions League, and you would get long odds on the league’s bottom side adding to that tally of defeats for the champions.

“This time last year we'd lost a couple of games and drawn maybe three,” Rodgers said.

“I can't have too many complaints really.

“I heard someone say the other day there's no need to panic. That was an interesting one! Some of the supporters were saying there's no need to panic because we drew a game.

“My idea is the long game. I've got to look after the whole campaign and get us through game after game when it's so busy. And until this point and this year, the players have been absolutely fantastic, having only lost two games [in 2024]. It's been absolutely superb.

“One of them away with 10 men and then one against the Champions League finalists. Apart from that, the players' mentality and their focus and their drive has been relentless.

“We want to finish off 2024, in a really good way and the players have been superb.”

Celtic rediscovered their scoring touch against Motherwell on Boxing Day after that Tannadice stalemate, but what has perhaps gone under the radar a little has been their excellent defensive record at the other end, conceding just four goals so far in 17 league matches this season.

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While known for his ability to set up attacking teams, Celtic’s solidity has also been satisfying for Rodgers.

“It's always the balance in identity,” he said.

“I think that's been a really pleasing aspect for me as a team. I like a team that's adaptable and can play in all the phases of the game.

“This is a team that, as you've seen, can press, can be aggressive, can be relentless within that. There's also times when they can play on the counter-attack. There's also times whenever they can defend that wee bit deeper and be resolute. And then there are games where we can really dominate and create.

“So, I think that's been a pleasing aspect over 2024, the adaptability in the team to play in different phases of the game.

“Our intent is always to create goals and score goals. But that also is through your defensive tightness and organisation and pressing. As a team, the balance has been really good.”

On the face of it, a home game against St Johnstone may usually be expected to pose a similar challenge to the one Celtic faced from Dundee United and Motherwell over their last two matches, with the opposition setting up in a low block and hoping to frustrate his team.

(Image: Jane Barlow - PA)

Under Simo Valakari’s stewardship though, the Saints have been more expansive in style, despite their rather desperate situation in the table, and Rodgers is unsure what to expect as a result.

“It’s interesting,” he said.

“Because I think since the new manager has come in, he's started off with a diamond whereas recently I've seen him more with a 4-4-2. But I think his ethos is to play football, to take the ball, to pass the ball and create opportunities.

“It's a quick turnaround from [Thursday]. So, it might be a similar game, maybe a different set-up in terms of the system. But maybe a similar game, similar set-up: be compact and rely on players breaking out.

“The onus is on us. We want to impose our way and we'll prepare now and get ready for that. Bring that freshness and finish the year really well.”