This is Brendan Rodgers’ second spell as the Celtic manager and he hasn’t felt pressure like it.
The first time around, he cake-walked Scottish football and dominated the domestic stage with Celtic like no other.
But now Brendan Rodgers faces a bigger test and John Hartson wants him to do ‘a little bit more’ with the players he has got, as he told Go Radio.
Whilst Liam Scales was used as an example to John Hartson, he thinks that the 25-year-old is a bit of a ‘one-off’.
Not many expected the Republic of Ireland international to be in this position, but now he is receiving praise from the greatest of them all.
Yes, the January transfer window is going to be targeted to enhance a team that has lost back-to-back Scottish Premiership matches.
But if that doesn’t happen, then John Hartson was pretty clear in what the Celtic boss needs to do.
Liam Scales and Brendan Rodgers
“Rodgers can only work with what he has got,” said Hartson. “If the club isn’t backing him, then I think he should be doing a little bit more with the players that he has at his disposal.
“That’s when his managerial skills come into it, which he has done with Scales. But Scales was there. He was on his way to Aberdeen.
“One of the reasons Scales came back to Celtic was because they were struggling for centre-backs. He was one of the only fit centre-backs he could play. He was brilliant at Ibrox. That was a bit of a one-off with Scales. He has been brilliant, Liam Scales.”
Brendan Rodgers improving the Celtic squad
You would argue Scales and Matt O’Riley have been the two who have sky-rocketed, in terms of performances, under Rodgers.
O’Riley shouldn’t be a surprise because he showcased strong form last season, but he is now the best player in Scotland.
The only gripe you would have is why Rodgers hasn’t done this with more players because it would very much help his cause.
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