MX23RW : Thursday, April 25 17:59:38| >> :600:341366:341366:

Brendan Rodgers delighted with youth progress at Celtic

Brendan Rodgers delighted with youth progress at Celtic
© Reuters
Teenage winger Mikey Johnston scored twice against Dundee.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers spoke of the "great joy" he gets from seeing young players break through after two academy graduates excelled in Saturday's 3-0 home win over Dundee at Parkhead.

With centre-forward Odsonne Edouard out injured, 19-year-old winger Mikey Johnston deputised and scored a brace, a drive and a header, before defender Filip Benkovic added a third in a one-side affair.

It was Johnston's second league start of the season after coming off the bench to score in the 3-0 win against Motherwell in midweek where right-back Anthony Ralston, who returned to the club after a loan spell with Dundee United last season, scored in his first start of the campaign.

Ralston, 20, struck a post against the Dens Park side as the league leaders turned in a performance that left Rodgers more than satisfied and paying tribute to the club's youth system.

The Northern Irishman said: "It is great to see that growth with young players.

"That's why sometimes I never get too down with injuries because it always opens the door for someone else.

"If it is young players, that is part of the vision here.

"We want to win titles, we want to play an aggressive, attacking way of football, we want to win and we want to do it with as many of the young players from the academy base.

"We have some regulars (from the academy) in the team for a number of years and now you can see these guys coming through as well.

"If they are not starting they will certainly be covering and working their way into becoming starters, I'm sure.

"So it gives you great joy when you see that development, both technically and tactically.

"Hopefully there will be more of the younger boys to come in the coming years."

Kieran Tierney missed out again with a hip injury but Rodgers is confident that the left-back will be fit for the trip to Aberdeen on Boxing Day and the Old Firm game against Rangers at Ibrox on December 29.

Rodgers is also hoping that Edouard (abductor), Mikael Lustig (concussion) and Dedryck Boyata (hamstring) are back for the Pittodrie game.

"That is the plan", said the former Swansea City and Liverpool boss.

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '88967eba-6f72-4953-8661-17a77e1cad86');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Brendan Rodgers delighted with youth progress at Celtic'});

ID:345005: cacheID:345005:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4816:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Tom Rogic in action for Celtic in the Champions League on July 19, 2017
Read Next:
'It's a shame for him and us' – Rodgers resigned to losing Rogic for Ibrox clash
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
10am
Blanch
Nadal
Result
Cachin
Ofner
6 6
3 3
Result
Elahi Galan
Bautista-Agut
64 6 1
77 4 6
Result
Gasquet
Sonego
2 5
6 7
Result
Hanfmann
Mensik
4 63
6 77
10am
Koepfer
Carballes Baena
10am
Kovacevic
Medjedovic
Result
Lajovic
Monteiro
4 3
6 6
Result
Machac
Ruusuvuori
6 1 6
4 6 2
10am
Michelsen
Fonseca
Result
Nishioka
Auger-Aliassime
6 1 4
4 6 6
Result
O'Connell
Arnaldi
4 1
6 6
Result
Purcell
Giron
4 6 77
6 4 62
10am
Ramos-Vinolas
Kotov
Result
Tabilo
Cobolli
7 4 4
5 6 6
Result
Zhizhen
Kecmanovic
3 2
6 6
Result
Azarenka
Maria
6 6
3 1
10am
Eala
Cirstea
10am
Annie Fernandez
Potapova
Result
Gauff
Rus
6 6
0 0
Result
Keys
Camelia-Begu
77 78
63 66
Result
Podoroska
Navarro
2 1
6 6
10am
Karolina Schmiedlova
Jabeur
10am
Swiatek
Wang
10am
Baez
Van Assche
10am
Coric
Zverev
10am
Martin Etcheverry
Shapovalov
10am
Humbert
Van De Zandschulp
10am
Hurkacz
Draper
10am
Marozsan
Cerundolo
10am
Paul
Klein
10am
Rublev
Bagnis
10am
Alexandrova
Krueger
10am
Andreeva
Noskova
10am
Bejlek
Kalinskaya
10am
Boulter
Montgomery
10am
Bronzetti
Rybakina
10am
Collins
Danilovic
3pm
Cristian
Krejcikova
10am
Dolehide
Kalinina
10am
Garcia
Wang
10am
Linette
Sabalenka
10am
Pavlyuchenkova
Saville
Result
Sorribes Tormo
Svitolina
6 7
3 5
Result
Vekic
Sakkari
3 2
6 6
Result
Arango
Yastremska
6 5 4
0 7 6
Result
Osaka
Samsonova
2 6 5
6 4 7
Result
Ostapenko
Bouzas Maneiro
6 6
3 1
Result
Haddad Maia
Errani
6 6
3 2
2.30pm
Lourdes Carle
Kudermetova
2.30pm
Mertens
Stephens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic000080265478
2RangersRangers000072234975
3Hearts000046341262
4Kilmarnock00004334951
5St Mirren00003843-543
6Dundee00004454-1041
Relegation Group
1Hibernian00004451-739
2Motherwell00004651-537
3Aberdeen00003549-1435
4St Johnstone00002446-2231
5Ross County00003256-2430
6Livingston00002259-3718
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!