Rodgers delivers positive updates – It’s a good news day for Celtic

The Celtic Star

·4 April 2025

Rodgers delivers positive updates – It’s a good news day for Celtic

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has given an update on the fitness of central defender Liam Scales, there’s positive news on Kasper Schmeichel and Daizen Maeda is once again the Scottish Premiership’s Player of the Month…

Liam Scales.Motherwell v Celtic, 2nd February 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou

The Irish defender has not featured for the Hoops since early March, when Celtic secured a hard-fought 5-2 away victory over St Mirren in which he suffered a head-knock that required surgery on his cheek.

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Scales a week away from a return to the match day squad

Liam Scales has been absent for three important matches, including a Scottish Cup quarter-final against Hibernian, a Glasgow Derby with theRangers, and a league clash at home to Hearts.

During this period of which Scales has been unavailable for selection, the 26-year-old’s defensive partner, Auston Trusty, has also been sidelined, allowing backup Polish centre-back Maik Nawrocki to step in.

Celtic v Hearts, Scottish Premiership 29/03/2025. Maik Nawrocki of Celtic during the match at Celtic Park, on 29 March 2025. Photo Malcolm Mackenzie PSI

Nawrocki has been more than decent these past few weeks

Nawrocki, who hadn’t featured for Celtic in the Scottish Premiership until theRangers game three weeks ago has clearly impressed Rodgers. The former Legia Warsaw centre-back stood out as Celtic’s only competent defender in the Glasgow Derby and didn’t put a foot wrong versus the Jambos last weekend. It will be interesting to see whether the manager backs him to play in a third consecutive match versus Simo Valakari’s side.

Although Scales won’t be available for this weekend’s Premiership encounter against St Johnstone in Perth, he is expected to be back in the mix for Celtic’s home game against Kilmarnock the following Saturday.

Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales. St Mirren v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Saturday 1st March 2025. Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“We’ve got Liam Scales back now”

Speaking to Celtic TV, Rodgers said: “We’ve got Liam Scales back now. He won’t be ready for this weekend, but he’s back in training and in contact with the team. We expect him to be available leading into the Kilmarnock game. We’re starting to get players back and have a really strong squad again.”

Paulo Bernardo returns. Photo Celtic FC

Bernardo’s back and evergreen winger James Forrest also returned

After a seven-week absence, Portuguese midfielder Paulo Bernardo made his return for Celtic from the substitute bench on Saturday, while Trusty, who surprisingly didn’t start the game, was included on the bench. Evergreen winger James Forrest also returned having been sidelined since picking up a leg injury in the Premier Sports League Cup Final win over theRangers at Hampden on 15 December 2024, the first part of a possible treble for the Hoops this season.

Kasper Schmeichel. Motherwell v Celtic, 2nd February 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou

The incredible Kasper Schmeichel

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was expected to be missing for five to six weeks with backup shot-stopper Viljami Sinisalo looking set to get a prolonged run in the team. Sinisalo spoke to The Celtic Star and a few other Celtic fan media sites this morning and you can watch this below. (Our questions are 4, 5 and 6).

Then we discovered that The Great Dane was back in training today. It’s a miraculous recovery from The Great Dane. What a man! He’s NOT diving, just working on his footwork, but he’s there and he’s doing everything he can to get back as soon as possible.

Daizen Maeda, Player of the Month…again!

Daizen Maeda, POTM again! Photo SPFL

What a Man 2! Daizen Maeda, Player of the Month again and an absolute certainly to make a clean sweep of the POTY awards, even the hacks will have to give it to Daizen through gritted teeth.

Here’s the Celtic fan media conference from this morning with Viljami Sinisalo

Conor Spence

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