Brendan Rodgers and Callum McGregor were both missing when the media were given access to Celtic training at Lennoxtown this morning.
The captain was substituted at half time during the 7-1 victory over Dundee on Wednesday night with no reports of any injury, Rodgers did his usual rounds of post match interviews including a humorous exchange with Jane Lewis following the media storm at Motherwell.
There could well be a perfectly innocent reason for the absences, they could have been required for some other club related function but in the current age it doesn’t take much, or anything for rumours to develop.
John Kennedy took charge of training, he normally plays a key role with assistance from Gavin Strachan, Adam Sadler and others from the medical side of the club.
After a midweek match training tends to be light as players recover from the exertions against Dundee and gear up for Sunday’s match away to Hearts, at this stage of the season having an extra recovery day is probably a benefit even if it means that the hoops will kick off Sunday’s match trailing by five points in second place.
The Herald reports Sky Sports reporter Mark Benstead saying:
Interesting little side note to training. It’s not Brendan Rodgers overseeing this morning’s session. John Kennedy is the man calling the shots so far.
The Celtic manager is yet to make an appearance. We are due to speak to him at lunchtime, I imagine he will be on route. But, for the moment, John Kennedy is the man looking after this morning’s session.
McGregor’s absence is reported in the article without a direct quote.
As well as the usual media conference for all broadcasters, Sky Sports announced that they will be interviewing Rodgers between 1-2pm.
Celtic will put on their standard media conference over lunchtime today, at various times during the season Kennedy will be called on to host the conference, a task that he is very comfortable with.
Apart from McGregor no-one else from the squad that was involved against Dundee were noted as missing today’s training.
Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnston and Greg Taylor have all been out with injury in recent times but started the win over Dundee, maintaining that combination alongside Liam Scales will bring some welcome continuity to Rodgers’ selections.
With three goals in his last two appearances Adam Idah will be expected to start the game against Hearts with Kyogo Furuhashi again likely to start the match on the bench.
CLICK HERE for SNS images from today’s training.
CLICK HERE for Matt O’Riley’s price tag.
❌ No Callum McGregor or Brendan Rodgers at Celtic training this morning.
📺 Hearts vs Celtic, Sunday 12pm. Live on Sky. pic.twitter.com/DbfDlzTAks
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) March 1, 2024
