Rodgers will have to go with the same squad of players again on Saturday against Gamba Osaka although Yuki Kobayashi could miss out through injury.
The report in The Sun claims that the players will arrive in Scotland next week which leaves them with their Korea clubs to prepare for life in Europe while paperwork is progressed.
In Tuesday’s Daily Record and Sun, Rodgers speaks highly of Ralston from his first spell in charge but Celtic 365 understands that the Scotland defender has missed the trip to Japan with concerns that he could be out of action for an extended period.
Reo Hatate had the biggest assist possible in the 1-1 draw away to Shakhtar Donetsk but that incident where he was almost credited with a goal summed up Celtic’s luck in the Champions League. Bad luck.
Brendan Rodgers is very much cut from the same cloth, wanting to give players the maximum opportunity to impress and make the best of the opportunities from a relatively short career although Nakamura has demonstrated that careers can be extended.
Any team managed by Kevin Muscat is bound to have a bit of bite with the former Millwall defender into his third year in charge of the club after taking over from Postecoglou. Following the Celtic friendly the Marinos take on Manchester City on Sunday.
We wouldn’t be able to buy Kieran for £25-£30million, that’s for sure, or the figures I see banded about. I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t be able to pay the huge salary he’s on. However, one can never tell.
We will be looking to trim the squad. That will be the natural process. I’ve already spoken to a couple of players and I’m sure I will do over the course of pre-season.
After two seasons impressing in the Lowland League for Celtic B the teenager needs to take a significant step forward which means getting regular first team football on his CV.
Other than the goalscorers and the mention of a first half assist from Alexandro Bernabei there is nothing about the team-lines on Celtic’s website or Twitter account.