Celtic

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Brendan Rodgers has backed Daizen Maeda to recapture peak form at Celtic after the striker netted his first league goal of the season following a "challenging summer".

Maeda headed in Marcelo Saracchi's delivery to open the scoring in Celtic's dramatic win at Kilmarnock on Sunday.

The Japan international asked to leave Celtic in February, and reportedly agreed a move away in the summer, but ultimately stayed put and was below his best in the opening games of the new campaign as Rodgers' side crashed to Kairat Almaty in the Champions League play-off.

"It's been a real challenging summer for him," manager Rodgers told CelticTV, external.

"He maybe felt the future was going to be elsewhere, but I think we can all see from that personality and from the humility that he has, that it won't take him long to get back to playing how everyone knows he plays – 150%, working, pressing and always being there for the goal.

"So he's such a great guy and whatever the summer brought, it's gone now, and for him now it's just about doing the very best he possibly can.

"It was a fantastic goal, great ball by Marcelo and then his movement and instinct to get across and make the header was superb."

Rodgers was also full of praise for 19-year-old right-back Colby Donovan, who made his full debut in the Rugby Park win.

"I've really liked him since I first saw him," the manager added.

"People talk about training the way you play - for me you train the way you fight, and that means that you'll take that mentality into your games and I see that in Colby.

"Every time he trains, he fights, he works, and young players like that, you want to give opportunities to.

"So I'm delighted for him, a Celtic boy who has come through the system, putting him in not an easy task at all, first game on an astroturf pitch, the weather conditions.

"But he came through it, and right at the very end he was the one that was in the box making the cross that leads to the penalty."

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• Celtic have lifted the League Cup 22 times, with their most recent triumph coming against Rangers on penalties last term.

• The Parkhead side have been runners-up 15 times in the competition and have reached the semi-finals on 46 occasions.

• Bobby Lennox is Celtic's all-time top scorer in the League Cup with 63 goals.

• Celtic have faced this weekend's quarter-final opponents Partick Thistle 26 times in this competition, winning 17.

• Celtic's biggest League Cup win was a 10-0 rout of Hamilton in the quarter-final first leg at Parkhead in 1968.

• Brendan Rodgers' team beat Premiership newcomers Falkirk 4-1 in the second round to set up Sunday's meeting with former Celtic defender Mark Wilson's Thistle.

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The draw for the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals will take place on Sunday after Partick Thistle v Celtic (15:30 BST) concludes.

The semis will be played on the weekend of 1-2 November with the final scheduled for Sunday, 14 December.

St Mirren's trip to Kilmarnock on Friday night (19:45) gets the quarter-finals under way before Aberdeen host Motherwell (15:00) on Saturday followed by Rangers v Hibs (17:45).

Captain Callum McGregor insists there was never a shred of doubt in the Celtic dressing room over Daizen Maeda's dedication to the cause, despite the striker emptying his locker in preparation for an exit. (Daily Record)

Celtic fans eager for change in the boardroom have been urged to "back off" by former board member Lord Willie Haughey, who says they have been spoiled by a decade of success. (PLZ Soccer)

Ex-Celtic coach Damien Duff is the leading contender to take the Republic of Ireland job after leaving Shelbourne in June. (Scottish Sun)

Former Everton winger Kevin Kilbane says the Premier League side should make a move for Celtic full-back Alistair Johnston this summer. (Daily Record)

Read the rest of Thursday's gossip.

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Alistair Johnston feels "ahead" in his recovery from a hamstring tear and sees the enforced lay-off as an opportunity to "reset" after playing 115 Celtic games since the start of 2023.

The Canada right-back was expected to be out for 12 weeks after suffering the injury in the goalless first leg of Celtic's Champions League play-off loss to Kairat Almaty last month.

"When the original injury happened, I kind of feared the worst," he told the Park The Bus podcast., external

"It's a pretty significant injury, still. I'm actually ahead of where I thought I was going to be, but still a long way to go. I'm not really going to put a timeline on it just yet.

"I feel really good. I feel like I'm almost ready to go out there and play, but obviously I know there's still a lot of boxes that need to get checked before I get back to my full level.

"I'm hoping to be back here in the nearer future than probably expected."

Johnston, 26, feels "lucky" the injury was not more serious, given his country is co-hosting next year's World Cup.

"I don't think any name is really written in pen," Johnston said.

"We've continued to develop. It's really exciting. I want to be competing. You have to come in, you have to be fully committed to every single training session, not just every match with the national team, to really keep your spot."

Johnston's international team-mate Derek Cornelius made his Rangers debut in Saturday's defeat by Hearts.

The defender scored the winner in Canada's win over Wales last week and, in a light-hearted tone, Johnston was asked if he wanted to see Cornelius do well in Glasgow.

"I love DC but there's not a single bone in my body that could ever pull for them," he wryly replied.

Tino
Fan writer

Last-minute winners, at any point in a season, are moments we can all enjoy.

It doesn't matter if your club isn't really talking to you (at least not in the way you would like), it doesn't matter that someone from within seems to have an agenda against the manager, and it doesn't even matter if your best striker would really rather be somewhere else.

Because for 96 minutes on Sunday - or 84 if you were one of thousands of Celtic fans who took part in the 12-minute minute protest - all those issues were pushed to one side.

At Rugby Park, Kelechi Iheanacho's penalty marked his Celtic debut with the type of contribution supporters always hope for from a new signing, while fellow new Bhoy Sebastian Tounekti lit up the stage with a man-of-the-match performance on his first start.

All in all a good afternoon's work in the Ayrshire rain, and a result that left fans travelling home happy after a day of drama on and off the park.

However, once the dust settled, Celtic supporters were left with a straightforward choice in how to interpret the afternoon.

The first option is the simplest: enjoy the win on its own terms. Acknowledge the resilience shown by the team, put the frustrations of the past few weeks behind you, and focus purely on the League Cup quarter-final against Partick Thistle this weekend.

Football, after all, is ultimately about results (isn't it?) and this was a well-earned three points for Brendan Rodger's men.

The second option requires more thought.

It is to enjoy the win, but not let it mask ongoing concerns. The frustrations that have built recently - over poor communication, a haphazard transfer window and internal unrest among many other issues - do not simply disappear because of one strike from Iheanacho's left boot.

From this perspective, Sunday's result is of course welcome, but it shouldn't distract from the need to move forward in the push for meaningful change at Celtic.

Both views are absolutely valid and both should be completely respected.

As should the views of the many supporters who probably sit somewhere in the middle.

What remains to be seen is whether Iheanacho's late winner now signifies the start of something more substantial in the push for change, or will it simply act as a smokescreen from the underlying issues at Celtic Park?

All will become clearer in the weeks ahead.

Tino can be found at The Celtic Exchange, external

Celtic will agree a contract extension with Kelechi Iheanacho down the line if the striker, who signed until the end of the season, continues to score goals. (Football Insider), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

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Celtic's front three finally has a fresh feel to it.

Tunisia international Sebastian Tounekti made his debut on the left wing in Sunday's win against Kilmarnock after signing a five-year deal on deadline day, while Belgian Michel-Ange Balikwisha was on the right for his second appearance for Brendan Rodgers' side.

It's extremely early days to call or compare the new wingers, but if the dramatic victory in Ayrshire is of anything to go by, Tounekti looks a terrific signing.

The 23-year-old was a standout at a sticky and sodden Rugby Park and gave the Celtic support - when they eventually came in - something to sing about.

Most notably, he was keen for the ball and direct in his dribbling, with eight bursts forward with the ball at his feet attempted, in comparison to Balikwisha's one.

With over 62% accuracy on his charges, he touched the ball in Killie's box on 14 occasions before letting fly with four shots while Balikwisha didn't have a single touch in the Killie box or pop at goal.

In fact, Tounekti's 67 touches of the ball in his 88-minute debut was more than the 24-year-old Belgian managed in a rather anonymous 58 minutes against Kilmarnock and a difficult 65 minutes at Ibrox combined (65).

Whether Daizen Maeda continues through the middle or Kelechi Iheanacho starts up top, the striker should receive the service he craves through pacy Tounekti, who picked out six passes/crosses into the danger zone.

The debutant contested 11 duels against a disciplined Stuart Kettlewell side, winning six, while Balikwisha won one of his two.

Upon his signing, Rodgers said "exciting" Norway-born Tounekti would "make a big difference".

On Sunday afternoon in Kilmarnock, he did just that. Continue that encouraging start and he will swiftly become a Celtic star.

Sebastian Tounekti's former boss at Hammarby, Kim Hellberg, says work on the Celtic winger's individual development has stood him in good stead for playing at the Scottish champions. (Daily Record), external

Celtic forward Kelechi Iheanacho, 28, is coy about a possible previous move to the club, saying he "always" hoped to join. (Sun), external

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Kelechi Iheanacho hopes his debut goal can spark a run of wins for Celtic.

The Nigeria international - who previously played under Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers at Leicester City - came off the bench before dispatching a 96th-minute penalty to secure a 2-1 victory over Kilmarnock on Saturday.

It took Celtic back to the top of the Scottish Premiership, above Hearts on goal difference, with 13 points from their opening five matches.

Rodgers' side have been criticised for a lack of cutting edge in the early part of the season, particularly in their Champions League play-of defeat by Kairat Almaty.

Iheanacho was signed on a free transfer after his release by Sevilla this summer and he says he felt "pressure" to deliver on his first appearance for the club.

"I'm feeling really, really good," Iheanacho said. "It's the last kick of the game and I got to take it, so I'm really happy.

"It was a massive feeling. Everyone was happy and I could see how happy the fans were and how they felt when they jumped on the pitch. It was a massive win.

"It's a great feeling but, at the same time, there's a lot of pressure as well with the spot-kick. But I just took it with composure and we win the three points which is massive, and hopefully there are many more to come.

"Going forward I think it will give me the confidence to show my quality for the club."

Iheanacho insists he is not fussed by negativity about his form after underwhelming spells with both Sevilla and Middlesbrough last season.

"As a football player you get this all the time," he said. "When it's not going really well, you just need to be strong, you don't need to lose your mind.

"It's a professional game, so you need to just focus and keep doing the work until it clicks."

We asked for your thoughts after debutant Kelechi Iheanacho's game-winning penalty gave Celtic a dramatic 2-1 win against Kilmarnock, putting the Hoops top of the Premiership table.

Here's what you had to say:

John: Now we have three top-class left wingers. What about the right? Should we be giving Reo Hatate a rest and letting Arne Engels show his vision?

Mikey: Same old Celtic wasting the first 45 minutes of fans' time. The new boys on the left side were the only bright spark in a very dull half of football, the midfield look like strangers at times struggling to string two forward passes together. Sebastian Tounetki lit up the left-hand side, an absolute joy to see a winger take on defenders and cause chaos in the box. Great penalty from Iheanacho.

Sean: A win is a win and Celtic are top of the table! The performance was once again slow and the players we have relied on year after year are dictating that slow pace. Callum McGregor and Hatate have not been up to the levels they usually show and that is a huge factor in what we have seen so far this season. Get these two firing on all cylinders again and watch Celtic spring into life.

Neil: If any of the back four pick up an injury we are in real trouble. We are well prepared across the midfield but disjointed up front. Michel-Ange Balikwisha is not the answer. He is out of his depth and does not go past his man. He plays the easy option every time. James Forrest carries far more threat and should be starting. The team is not fluid at present.

Paul: A vital three points. We needed that win to raise the morale around the gaffer and the team. It might turn out to be the win that kicks on our season.

Ray: Hard-fought win and signs of cohesion creeping back into the team. Important win, important goal by Iheanacho and a strong debut. Keep the off field noise in check and bond to focus on a winning style again.

Liam: It was poor stuff in the first half from a creative perspective, but we didn't look troubled. Second half it improved a bit, but we look rusty and the balance in midfield isn't quite right to me. Benjamin Nygren works hard but is a little unpredictable and Reo is just not worth his place. A win is a win, and it is typical Celtic. The more games the better hopefully.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Sebastian Tounekti earns a spot in my team of the week after an excellent Celtic debut.

The Tunisia winger was the best player against Kilmarnock for Brendan Rodgers' side.

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Kelechi Iheanacho stole the headlines after his stoppage-time penalty secured a morale-boosting Celtic victory at Rugby Park on Sunday.

However, another Celtic debutant was the standout performer for Brendan Rodgers' side.

Sebastian Tounekti played with a freedom and drive that immediately endeared him to the travelling Celtic support.

The Tunisia winger created four chances, completed five dribbles and won six duels in the 88 minutes he was on the pitch.

He was unfortunate not to score or assist on his debut, also taking five shots and having 14 touches in the opposition box - the most of any player on either side.

Tounekti brought a spark to a Celtic forward line that has struggled to fire this season and his new manager was impressed.

"That's a Celtic-minded winger," Rodgers said post-match. "He was so exciting - he was so good for his first game.

"He's brilliant. He has that physicality and speed. He can do everything really and he plays with joy, which is what it is about and we've been looking for that quality."

Watch the highlights as Celtic's controversial late penalty snatched all three points against Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.

Available to UK users only.

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "We had a lot of control in the game without creating so much in the first half.

"With the international break, there are a lot of new faces in the starting line-up, so the connection is not as fluid as we would like, but we were still comfortable in the game.

"Second half, we dominated the game and deservedly went in front with other opportunities.

"In the Celtic spirit, we kept going right to the end and I'm delighted for Kelechi Iheanacho to get the penalty. I know he thrives off confidence from his team-mates, manager and supporters.

"Delighted for the team, there's been so much noise, but we got out there and won.

"The new guys probably don't know the importance of a win here. It's not easy. The pitch, Kilmarnock are well-organised, there are some good players in there that make it difficult and a direct style.

"But we stood up to that and got the win. For us, it's controlling what we can control and we have the confidence to come through.

"It's still very early in the season. We've started well in the league with our four wins and a draw and we're only going to get better."

On debutant Sebastian Tounekti: "That's a Celtic-minded winger. He was so exciting - he was so good for his first game.

"He's brilliant. He has that physicality and speed. He can do everything really and he plays with joy, which is what it is about and we've been looking for that quality."

Debutant Kelechi Iheanacho's added-time penalty gave Celtic a dramatic win at Kilmarnock to go top of the Scottish Premiership.

Have your say on the game here.

Read the match report here.

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Brendan Rodgers will only extend his contract as Celtic manager if real changes are made, podcaster Paul John Dykes believes.

The Northern Irishman said at Friday's pre-match media conference that he would "love to stay" with the Scottish champions beyond the end of contract next summer.

"I would be delighted if Rodgers could stay at the football club, but I do get a sense that he will only stay if changes happen behind the scenes," Dykes said.

"He's obviously deeply unhappy at many things that have gone on, but that for me is a great message to the fans.

"He is talking the fans' language, whereas the board members who have been highlighted by the fan groups are certainly on the other side of that fence."

Celtic issued a statement in reaction to a letter of protest from the fans over the club's summer transfer business and Dykes thinks it mirrors what happened at the end of Rodgers' first term as Celtic manager.

"That was dreadful last week and this obviously followed the fan letter, the open letter, then we get this insider telling tales out of school about Rodgers, not for the first time," he said.

"It happened first time round as well. Whether or not it's the same person, who knows, but it certainly did happen the last time.

"The press conference was one that Rodgers got an opportunity to respond to everything that's been happening, be that the statement from the club, the open letter from the fans.

"He chooses his words very, very wisely, doesn't he, and very carefully, and he talked up certain board members, and the ones that he topped up were, of course, Dermot Desmond, Michael Nicholson and Chris Mackay. So you can make of that what you will."

Are Celtic facing a crossroads already this season?