Brendan Rodgers says ‘unbelievable’ Celtic star has perhaps been his ‘own worst enemy’ in recent years

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Brendan Rodgers has made seven senior signings this summer.

Benjamin Nygren appears to be the most impressive so far having continued his excellent early season form on Sunday with a goal and assist versus Aberdeen.

We’re largely yet to see what the rest can bring, including Shin Yamada from Kawasaki Frontale and Manchester City defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey.

Although there is one summer recruit who Celtic fans know everything about, and has also started the season well under Rodgers.

• READ MORE: ‘What has gone unnoticed’ – Brendan Rodgers’ transfer update hits back at Celtic ‘negativity’

Rodgers happy with ‘maturer’ Kieran Tierney at Celtic

Of course, it’s Kieran Tierney. And Rodgers has been discussing the left-back at his pre-Falkirk Premier Sports Cup press conference on Thursday.

The Celtic manager is happy with Tierney’s progress so far, but is keen to give the Scotland international plenty of time to rest and recover as he builds up his fitness.

Rodgers thinks Tierney is mature enough now to look after his body better than when he was younger, perhaps at a time when he was his own ‘worst enemy’ with injuries.

Rodgers told reporters: “Yeah, I just think that’s going to be time and I just want to take it steady with him because he’s full on in training, his mentality’s unbelievable.

“It’s also considering that he hasn’t played a lot over the last couple of years. So then just throwing him into every single game for 90 minutes, that’s not really going to work for us.

“But I’ve been so pleased with how he has come in, how he’s settled and he’s getting between 60 and 70 minutes and just working his fitness level.

“He understands it now. He’s obviously got a great maturity to him now and has probably sensed maybe he’s been his own worst enemy as it were, because he is so committed and he is so full on.

“But you can see his maturity as an experienced player now, that in those moments where you do maybe, you know, if you’re doing six exercises and you’re taking him out of the last one, then he understands it much better now.

“Even though he’s inherently a guy that gives everything and it’s never 80% or 70%, it’s 100% always. But I’ve been so pleased to have him back and he’s showed up really well.”

Will Tierney face Falkirk in Premier Sports Cup?

It’s probably unlikely, to be frank about it. Tierney has started the last two Scottish Premiership games for Celtic and has clocked up 132 minutes of action.

He was subbed off against St Mirren with cramp, while he came off after 67 minutes in the 2-0 away win over Aberdeen at the weekend.

Rodgers, as he has mentioned, is carefully managing Tierney’s minutes yet in a way that still benefits Celtic on the pitch.

It’s likely Rodgers will make a number of changes for the Falkirk clash, so expect to see Hayato Inamura deployed at left-back on Friday night.