Dane Murray celebrates scoring Celtic’s third goal during the Premier Sports League Cup match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on August 15, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Q: Regarding Dane Murray, he signs a contract and scores a great goal.
Brendan Rodgers: ” “Great header. I thought Arne’s deliveries all night were brilliant. He had maybe just one early on, or sorry, at the end of the half. But other than that, the precision, and credit to Gavin and Greg and the guys working on the set pieces, that’s exactly what they had planned. Get the delivery right, in the middle of the box, and Dane was there to score it. So it was very good. And great for him because he’s a great boy. He’s got a lot of potential, and I think over the next 12 to 18 months he’s going to really grow.”
🗣️ "I think over the next 12 to 18 months, he's going to really grow… his ceiling is so high."
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers predicts a bright future for defender Dane Murray who scored his first goal for the club on the same day as signing a new contract ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/SZocDJSnO8
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) August 15, 2025
Dane Murray scores Celtic’s third goal during the Premier Sports League Cup match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on August 15, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Q: He’s obviously somebody you really believe in?
Brendan Rodgers: ” “Yeah, I think his ceiling’s so high. There’s areas of the game that he needs to clearly, obviously work on. But he’s 6’4, he’s quick, he can take the ball. He has a comfort with the ball which aligns with top players and he just, again, concentration is something that’s key for defenders. But I really like him and that’s hence the reason we’ve tied him down. And I think he’s got a great future.”
Q: In terms of Arne, (Engels) his attitude and deliveries seemed spot on tonight.
Brendan Rodgers: “There’s obviously negativity around Arne and some of these guys, but for a manager, we’ve put a really good player in, we took a really good player out. And then I can change it and it’s great for the squad. So his attitude is great. He tired a little bit, so he had a little bit of looseness towards the last five, 10 minutes, but his quality from his set piece and his general work rate and intensity was great. So he’s a boy that gives everything. And there’s a lot on his shoulders as an expensive player. But we bought potential. The club has bought potential many times. And a lot of them aren’t here.
Dane Murray of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s third goal with teammate Arne Engels during the Premier Sports League Cup match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on August 15, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
“This is a guy who has potential but it cost a little bit more. And you have to pay that little bit more because if you’re going to be sat away in Bayern Munich and watching the team play and he has that athleticism, then that’s what you need because it costs you money. But he’s nowhere near the finished article. We’ve just had to pay more for potential.
Cracking image of Arne Engels corner kick 📸 pic.twitter.com/5ZktdSaDSb
— Celtic Curio (@Celticcurio) August 15, 2025
“You can buy potential at a million quid and two million quid. And a lot of the time, it doesn’t work. Sometimes it does. I will tell you a lot of time it doesn’t. But him, we’ve had to pay a little bit more to get the athleticism, to get the physicality that this team needed. And now I’ve got great options in there. Guys that are physical but guys that are technical. So I don’t complain.”
Q: You could still add a couple of wildcards before the first leg next week. Is that a possibility?
Brendan Rodgers: ” “Hopefully. It would be great. We’ve obviously named a squad, but right up until just before the game, we can do that. So that would be really good if we can.”
Johnny Kenny of Celtic reacts during the Premier Sports League Cup match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on August 15, 2025 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Q: A start for Johnny Kenny tonight as well Brendan, were you happy with his performance?
Brendan Rodgers: ” “Yeah, I think he worked very hard. He’s an honest boy who gives his all in the game and that’s what the team’s about. Didn’t have so many chances, a couple of good wee runs, didn’t quite drop to him in the box, but I thought he worked very hard and then created the chance then for Shin Yamada to come on.”
CELTIC IN THE EIGHTIES BY DAVID POTTER, FOREWORD BY DANNY McGRAIN is published by Celtic Star Books on the fifth day of September. You can pre-order now to guarantee your copy which will be signed by Danny McGrain, with just a limited number of signed copies still available, although they are selling very quickly.
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- Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter, personally signed by Danny McGrain
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- Alec McNair – Celtic’s Icicle by David Potter
And there’s another great benefit for readers who pre-order their copy of Celtic in the Eighties. You will also receive a copy of an earlier David Potter book – Celtic’ Icicle – Alec McNair – which you’ll receive for FREE when you pre-order with Celtic in the Eighties. So you get two great Celtic books by David Potter and better still the postage is only charged on one. Click on the image below to order. (Just order Celtic in the Eighties and we’ll automatically add a copy of the Alec McNair book).
Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Foreword by Danny McGrain. Published on Celtic Star Books on 5 September 2025. Click on image to pre-order.
Help raise funds for Celtic Youth Academy by playing the Celtic Pools Weekly Lottery and you could win up to £25,000. The lottery is £1 per week. Click on image to join.
