‘Up to him’ – Brendan Rodgers explains what Celtic star needs to do to get a run in the side

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Brendan Rodgers has revealed what one of his stars needs to do to force his hand and give him a run of games.

Celtic comfortably beat Livingston ahead of their huge Champions League play-off second leg against Kairat Almaty on Tuesday.

The Celtic boss made a raft of changes, but it was standout star Benjamin Nygren who grabbed a brace, while Johnny Kenny came off the bench to add a third.

Several key players, such as Cameron Carter-Vickers and Callum McGregor, were dropped to the bench.

Summer signing Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, meanwhile, is still waiting to make his debut and Rodgers explained why he wasn’t in the squad.

• READ MORE: Three things learned as Celtic comfortably beat Livingston in the Scottish Premiership

Brendan Rodgers reveals why Jahmai Simpson-Pusey wasn’t in the squad

Simpson-Pusey joined on loan from Manchester City until the end of the season, and has come with a good reputation.

His arrival brought some excitement to Parkhead after Pep Guardiola endorsed Simpson-Pusey, but he is yet to be given a debut.

He wasn’t even in the squad for the game against Livingston, and Rodgers explained that it was because he was still building up his fitness, but warned that it’s up to the 19-year-old to prove that he should play.

“Really the first part of the season was to get him through until the international break,” Rodgers said.

“He’s getting used to how we’d be working because he’s coming from training with a group of players, he’s played no minutes at all over the pre-season, so he’s not ready.

“But we’re keeping an eye on him and hopefully after the international break, he can make some sort of impact, but that would be up to him.

“But he’s a talent.”

When will Jahmai Simpson-Pusey make his Celtic debut?

Rodgers’ comments suggest that they don’t want to rush Simpson-Pusey into the side due to his limited experience of first-team football.

It’s unlikely that we will see him in the two games before the international break which means that the earliest we could see the defender is against Kilmarnock on 13 September.

One week later is the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Partick Thistle, and a fixture against lower league opposition could be the perfect chance to introduce him to the Celtic faithful.