Final question put to Rodgers that’s missing from ‘Full’ Media Conference video

Q: Can I ask you about Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, does he just have to be patient to get in?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, I think it was a medium to longer term we were looking at young Jahmai here. Obviously we had our center-halves in place. But he was a young player that we saw as a talent. Of course, in the Champions League games, there’s more space on our bench. You’re not really having to put two and three center halves on your bench. So he’s come in. The team have defended well in the main. But he’s here for the 12 months at least to show what he can do and it’s not easy.

“You come to a club like Celtic. You still have to earn a position in the team. You come into a new environment. You’re moving away from his club. So it just takes time again. It’s that adaptation, you know. Liam Scales and Cameron Carter-Vickers have been doing really well. Dane Murray has been great over the course of pre-season. And of course, we’ve still got Auston Trusty, who’s just coming back from injury. And so the competition is there. And like I always say, for every player you have to earn your place. But I’m really pleased with his development, how he’s been moving in the right direction, adapting to the intensity of how we work and how we play plus moving away from Manchester as well. So yeah, I’ve been pleased for him, and I’m pretty sure that over the course of the season, when that opportunity comes, he’ll show that he’s ready.”

Q: Having two right-backs out isn’t ideal, but great opportunity for Colby Donovan. He started on Sunday. How do you feel he did in what was a pretty difficult game and is this maybe a gilt-edged opportunity for him to give you a selection headache?

Brendan Rodgers: “Yeah, I think for any young player it’s always a great opportunity. I’ve really liked Colbyfrom when he came in, just seeing him and seeing his development. There’s absolutely no doubt he has the personality to play for Celtic, and you know I can see in how he trains every day, you know people say train how you play, I always say train how you fight, you know, you go on to the pitch, you’re there to fight. And he’s that player who does that. But he also has quality as well. And I think that stepping in, it wasn’t an easy game, the conditions, the AstroTurf pitch. Yeah, some bits we misplaced passes and whatever else, but he grew into the game and at the end he’s the one that’s down the side of the pitch and making the cross. So I’m really pleased for him. Still a long, long way to go for him to be a regular player here, but he’s shown potential.”

Q: The personality is a big thing at a club like Celtic, as much as technical ability?

Brendan Rodgers: “It’s everything. Arguably, it’s the biggest trait that you need. You’ve seen it over here for many years at big clubs. And a club like Celtic, where really gifted players, really talented players come in. But they’re unable to deal with pressure. Consistency and pressure. Consistency to train. Because some clubs you’ll come into, and as a player, you come in and you can get away with maybe one or two good games a month and then being off it and then maybe not being quite there in training and turning up for the games. So many players you hear, ‘I’m not really a training player, I’m a match player.’ That doesn’t work at the biggest clubs.

“For you to even earn the right to play with a top team and a top player, you have to be able to train with them. So that means you need to be eight, nine, 10 out of 10 every time you train. So so that is a challenge for players. So in order to get over that, you need to have the personality. And you may not always have the best talent, but it can be enough. If you have sufficient ability and talent, but big personality and a mental toughness, you have an opportunity.”

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