Brendan Rodgers has urged midfielder Matt O’Riley to commit himself to Celtic attacks and add even more goals to his game.
O’Riley has been one of the main beneficiaries of Rodgers’ arrival at the Bhoys this summer. He looks to have really improved his game and already has four goals in his opening eight matches, the team’s joint top-scorer alongside Kyogo Furuhashi.
The manager is clearly a fan – O’Riley has been ever present in his midfield – but Rodgers reckons the Danish U21 international has even more to give and wants to see more efficiency in his game.
The Bhoys boss said after watching O’Riley impress in the 3-0 win over Livingston [Celtic Way]: “I thought he was brilliant. He’s a player who maybe goes under the radar a little bit but he’s one of the ones I’d like to develop to become a more efficient player.
“He’s a really bright footballer who wants to learn. It’s just about little details like when to arrive in the box and when to get into areas that are going to allow you to score goals.
“If you’re going to be a number eight at the highest level you have to contribute, you have to create and score goals. Don’t worry about the build-up, get in the box – that’s where the top midfield players will get goals, in that six-yard box.”
It’s heartening that, despite O’Riley’s stellar form, Rodgers thinks that he has plenty of more development in his game.
The Celtic boss has a track record of unlocking that potential in midfielders so it’s exciting to consider where this work-in-progress could go.
O’Riley is one of the first-choice picks in the starting eleven right now – and for good reason. The next step is ensuring he maintains consistency over a period of months.
If he can do that – as well as produce a couple of big performances in Europe – Celtic have good times ahead.
In other news, Celtic boost as firm date set for Cameron Carter-Vickers comeback.
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