A fair few strikers have been used by Celtic in pre-season, and the latest player got a run out in the Como Cup against Al-Ahli.
New signing Shin Yamada made a first appearance for Celtic when he came off the bench, as Brendan Rodgers’ side secured a penalty shootout win against the Saudi Pro League club.
This was a third-place play-off game in the Como Cup, with the duo losing their opening matches to Ajax and hosts Como, respectively.
Nonetheless, after a mixed first half, which saw Celtic go 1-0 down, the champions of Scotland bounced back with a well-worked goal from a corner, which was neatly finished by Auston Trusty.
That’s when new boy Yamada was introduced into the action for the first time.
Brendan Rodgers on Shin Yamada’s first outing for Celtic against Al-Ahli
Yamada looked lively during his time on the pitch, including having a goal disallowed, before he scored the winning spot-kick in the shootout.
After the match, Rodgers praised the 25-year-old, including how he is settling in after having to travel across the world and into a completely different environment.
The Celtic manager also touched upon how Yamada has been in training during his first week with the club, as he told Celtic TV.
“Yeah, he has been settling in,” said Rodgers.
“It’s never easy. You think about where he has come from, the other side of the world, and then he is adapting straight away to a new intensity, which is always tough, and then you are travelling.
“He has worked very hard in training. It was nice for him to get that little moment in the end.”
What Rodgers said about Celtic’s final pre-season match
The next step for Celtic? St Mirren at home, and just like that, the new Premiership campaign is upon us and another title defence for Scotland’s most successful club.
It wasn’t so long ago that James Forrest was scoring his record-breaking goal, and now it’s time to chase title number 56.
But how does Rodgers feel about it all?
“It was a good exercise for us,” stated Rodgers. “Pre-season is about fitness, but it’s all about togetherness and spirit. I think the players showed that in the second half.
“A lot of changes to the game, but the boys came in and did very well. Then, in the second half, some of the younger players were introduced and gave that nice little spark to the game, so it’s a nice way to finish.
Rodgers chuckled, then added: “It gets rid of our Scottish Cup demons.”
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