Brendan Rodgers spoke to the mainstream media today at Lennoxtown ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Den’s Park to take on a Dundee side who had a chance to rest up at the weekend. As has been the case for many months now no Celtic fan media sites have been invited to these conferences…

Q: How is the squad looking ahead of this game tomorrow night?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, Nicolas is back but we’ll give Daizen one more day and see how he reacts. But yeah, good news with Nic back. Everyone else is the same.”
Q: It will be a boost to have those two back if both are fit. You showed at the weekend that you can have that versatility and play in different ways, didn’t you?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, I think that was important at the weekend with the difficult conditions. I thought the players, especially when they watch the game back as well and analyse the game, I thought we played the game to a high level technically and as quickly as we probably could play on the surface. So I thought the squad did well. If you think our efforts on goal were nearly 30 attempts at goal and shots at goal. So from that aspect of it, it was very good. But yeah, we rely on everyone. Of course, if you have one or two players out, then okay, you have to deal with that. It is a squad game for us and the squad has done well at the weekend.”

Q: Even Yang I thought had a really good game. He’s been in and out and had his chances, hasn’t he?
Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, I think it is a challenge for Yang in terms of the guys in front of him who are doing so well. So he’s had limited game time. What we see in him every day is that he works so hard at his game. Sometimes, especially when you’re an attacking player, when you don’t play so much, there’s always a chance that you come in and you try to force things. But for me, he gives his all. He gives everything. Yes, he needs to be more efficient. You know, attacking players have to be able to create goals and score goals as well as do that pressing function that we want. He gives absolutely everything. He was unlucky. He had a great bit of skill. That nearly made him a goal, but the keeper made a good save. He makes a great run. You see his desire to get into the position that leads to the penalty. So in terms of effort, he gives absolutely everything. He did well at the weekend.”

Q: Is he one you think you can develop? You want to develop all the players, but given what you’re talking about on the other side, is he something you think you can get to the next level?
Brendan Rodgers: “That’s just time and patience. To get anywhere as a player you need that mentality also. We’ve always worked and given our best to all the players. It’s about talent and how that accelerates going forward. He’s a young guy who’s adapted so well to come on over from Korea and speaking English now, translating with the players. It’s a huge testament to him. He’s a really good kid. Then, as I said, we have to look at it. At this moment in time, there are players out. He’s coming in and working very hard.”