Alistair Johnston on what Brendan Rodgers demands from the Celtic dressing room

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With the new season almost upon us, the Celtic fans will be hoping that Brendan Rodgers will be able to pull a transfer rabbit out of the hat before the Celtic Park kick-off against Kilmarnock on Sunday afternoon.

With only two new faces added to the squad so far, Rodgers is likely to start the new season with a weaker squad than he finished off last season’s campaign.

Although the Celtic boss is confident about getting new bodies in before the end of the transfer window, the fact remains that there is still plenty of work to do in the next five weeks for Rodgers and the recruitment team.

But that hasn’t taken away from the demands that the Celtic boss has placed on his squad as Alistair Johnston shares what Rodgers ‘insists’ that his players should deliver.

Johnston hails ‘great leader’ at Celtic

Celtic have just come off the back of a successful pre-season US Tour where they scored 12 goals and beat DC United, Man City and Chelsea.

And although Johnston played no part in those games, he has shared the demands that Rodgers is placing on the Celtic team ahead of the new season.

Johnston said [FourFourTwo print edition page 5], “We have a big squad, with players from all over the world, and he makes everyone feel part of something bigger.

“He’s managed massive clubs and was hugely successful at Celtic before.

“He insists on attacking football that fits in with Celtic’s traditions. A great leader.”

This will be music to the Celtic fans’ ears because it was the lack of attacking football for much of last season that frustrated them.

Going from the swashbuckling style of Ange Postecoglou to Rodgers’ more methodical build-up play made it look like the new Celtic boss had changed the message to his players.

But it seems that is not the case and to be fair to the Parkhead gaffer, the supporters did see more of an attacking style towards the end of last season as players returned from injury.

The Celtic supporters will be hoping that the new season will start as the old one ended and the defence of the title gets off to a blistering start on Flag Day on Sunday.