Celtic

We asked you what's the one thing nobody is talking about in relation to Celtic - good or bad.

Here's what some of you said:

Patrick: It feels like it's been a while since an academy player broke into the first team and competed regularly. It's great to have strong players but maybe when we're flying high it's a good chance to try the youngsters every now and again.

Calum: We're obviously flying at the moment, dominating Scottish football and making great strides in Europe. The next steps should be making steady progress in Europe. But to achieve this we have to also start looking at our homegrown players. I have huge concerns we're failing to hold on to our top talents and provide them with first-team opportunities.

Bill: Getting Brendan Rodgers tied down with a new contract.

Anon: A few things come to mind but the most glaring is the lack of quality coming through from the academy. From some of Rodgers' comments it seems there is a disconnect between what he sees as necessary for progression to the first team and what is being produced. The onus can't be fully on the players, the club should be driving their development.

Andy: We are refusing to talk about how Luke McCowan has been since joining. He has taken the ethos of the club right into his stride and seems to be involved in every charitable event Celtic are doing at the moment. What a guy!

Craig: Greg Taylor's contract situation really needs resolved. Regardless of the criticism he gets from some Celtic fans he remains a highly regarded player by his manager and team-mates. Also, his leadership behind the scenes has been invaluable during Celtic's recent success.

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• After their 2-0 win in March last season, Hearts could win back-to-back home league meetings with Celtic for the first time since August 2006 under Valdas Ivanauskas.

• Celtic have won both of their last two league meetings with Hearts without conceding. They last both won and kept a clean sheet three times in a row against the Jambos in the Scottish Premiership in May 2017 during Brendan Rodgers' first spell in charge.

• Only Celtic (177) have recorded more pressed sequences in the Scottish Premiership this season than Hearts (162).

• Celtic have won all six of their away league games this season by an aggregate score of 18-1. Only in 1957-58 (10), 1971-72 (9) and 2017-18 (7) have the Hoops ever won their opening seven away matches of a league campaign.

• Celtic's Nicolas Kuhn has been directly involved in 21 shots following a ball carry (10 shots, 11 chances created) in the Scottish Premiership this season, the most of any player. Indeed, his total carry distance of 2,087 metres is the most of any non-defender in the competition this term.

Scouts from Celtic and Rangers watched Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller captain Scotland under-19s this week and were joined by representatives from Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa. (Scottish Sun), external

Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn reveals Barcelona tried to sign him as a schoolboy and made another approach in 2018 when he chose to join Ajax. (Bild via Scottish Sun, external)

Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip.

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Life is pretty sweet for Celtic fans with Brendan Rodgers' side setting the Premiership pace.

Celtic also have a League Cup final against Rangers to look forward to and are motoring along nicely in the Champions League.

But amid the strong start to the season, what is the one thing nobody is talking about in relation to Celtic - good or bad?

Let us know., external

Former midfielder Paul Lambert assesses Celtic's chances of finishing in the top eight to secure automatic qualification for the last 16 of the revamped Champions League this season.

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Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

I’ve waxed lyrical about the forward options Celtic have enjoyed this season. A rejuvenated Daizen Maeda; a new Nicolas Kuhn, now apparently a serious option for Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann.

Even a reborn Callum McGregor, piling in with goals as well as powerhouse midfield performances. It's about time, then, I made a case for the defence.

As good as Celtic have been in an attacking sense – just shy of three goals per game in 11 Premiership matches thus far – they've been just as impressive at the other end.

Any questions raised by the acquisition of a 38-year-old goalkeeper have been answered by the often immaculate displays of Kasper Schmeichel. Just ask Kilmarnock.

The guys in front of him haven't been performing too shabbily either. The Celtic defence has yet to concede a single goal from open play away from home in the Premiership this season. That takes some doing.

A Ronan Hale penalty in Dingwall is the only time the Celtic goal has been breached on their travels.

The go-to back four when the season started was Alistair Johnston, Cameron-Carter Vickers, Liam Scales and Greg Taylor. Auston Trusty and Alex Valle have been brought in to complement that, with big-money signing Trusty edging out the high-performing Scales in recent weeks.

All are likely to play a big part given the number of games Celtic have in front of them. Between now and the final whistle on 1 February, Brendan Rodgers' men will have played 20 matches in 75 days.

As well as the stamina of his forwards, Rodgers must be admiring the concentration and discipline of the boys at the back. One miserly league goal conceded on the road; just the two at home, in that four-goal classic against Aberdeen.

The manager would be quick to point out defending starts from the front, with Maeda particularly impressive at closing down space.

When teams do break the Celtic press, they still have to contend with Schmeichel and co. Celtic have racked up 11 clean sheets in 18 games across all competitions by mid-November.

It's then a value judgment as to which is the more impressive stat: Celtic’s 31 league goals? Or the fact only three have been conceded in the Premiership so far?

Despite being on the same points tally as Aberdeen, Celtic's goal difference is 14 better. While Kuhn, Kyogo Furuhashi and Maeda might get all the glory, Celtic fans should also tip their hats to a defence deserving equal acclaim.

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In-form winger Nicolas Kuhn, 24, is in no rush to leave Celtic, according to his agent. (Sun), external

St Johnstone could provide more tickets to travelling Celtic and Rangers supporters for games at McDiarmid Park next season. (Sun), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

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Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi made his long-awaited comeback for Japan in their comfortable 3-1 win against China in a World Cup qualifier.

Kyogo started the match in Xiamen on the bench, alongside club team-mates Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate, and came on in the 77th minute for his first cap in over a year.

Fellow forward Maeda also came on, though Hatate - who made his first international appearance since June in Friday's win over Indonesia - didn't feature.

Japan remain top of Group C and firmly on course to qualify for the 2026 finals in Canada, Mexico and the USA.

While there were no goals for the Japan trio, Celtic's Luis Palma was the star man for Honduras in their Concacaf Nations League quarter-final first leg against Mexico. The winger scored both goals for the Hondurans in a 2-0 win on Friday.

Tino
Fan writer

Two wins from two for Scotland against Croatia and Poland was great to see but in truth I'm also pretty pleased that the conclusion of the latest international break now signals a full-on return to Celtic action.

We won't see more international football until the middle of March next year, and between now and then Brendan Rodgers and his side face what he calls an "absolute ultramarathon" of fixtures in no less than four competitions in the weeks and months ahead.

In the shorter term we have 10 games remaining in the calendar year and all of them will prove challenging in their own way.

It kicks off this Saturday with a rare night-time fixture against Hearts at Tynecastle – a place where we lost 2-0 on our last visit - and despite their lowly league position it is never an easy place to travel to.

With our latest Champions League tie against Club Brugge just a few days later the manager will have calls to make as he looks to keep the squad at peak performance levels in the coming weeks.

It presents an ideal opportunity for fringe players like Luke McCowan and Adam Idah to stake a claim for more minutes, while Luis Palma and Yang Hyun-jun might view it as something of a last chance saloon as they try to convince Rodgers they have a future in Glasgow.

And for others like Nicolas Kuhn and Callum McGregor – two players at the top of their game - the hope is the break has kept them fresh and firing for what lies ahead.

League and Champions League fixtures dominate between now and mid-December, before we then return to Hampden for an eagerly anticipated League Cup final with Rangers – but we'll get to all that in due course.

There's plenty to look forward to in the meantime for players and fans alike.

This run of 10 will go a long way to determining just how successful a campaign it will be. Let the games begin.

Tino can be found at The Celtic Exchange, external

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It was a night to forget for Liam Scales on Sunday.

His red card at Wembley Stadium triggered a Republic of Ireland collapse against England in their final Nations League match.

Heimir Hallgrimsson's side defended resolutely for 50 minutes and frustrated Lee Carsley's Three Lions, but, when the Celtic defender was shown a second yellow card for clipping Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham - conceding a penalty in the process - it opened the floodgates for a thrashing.

Republic of Ireland were already consigned to a third place finish in Group B2, but Hallgrimsson said in his post-match press conference that some players "gave up" following Scales' dismissal.

Celtic left-back Alexandro Bernabei - currently on loan at Brazilian side Internacional - is being targeting by Corinthians for a permanent move, alongside former Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos. (Daily Record), external

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Former striker Brian McClair has been reliving the day Celtic clinched the 1985-86 Scottish top-flight title.

On the final day of the season, Hearts were two points ahead of Celtic with a superior goal difference of four.

But in a dramatic finale, Celtic raced to a 4-0 victory at half-time in their game against St Mirren at Love Street.

Then, just nine minutes after the break, McClair made it five. Meanwhile, Hearts were drawing 0-0 at Dundee.

With just seven minutes to go, Dundee substitute - and Celtic supporter - Albert Kidd put the home side in front at Dens before scoring again with three minutes to play, securing the title for the Parkhead club.

"Hearts were by far the better team right through the whole season up until almost the very end," McClair told the BBC's Sacked in the Morning podcast.

"We had got into a situation where we felt we just needed to try and win the last nine or 10 games.

"The big game I felt gave us all real belief we could perhaps get within touching distance was when we went to Pittodrie, we always got hammered there, but we managed to beat them 1-0.

"After that game, it gave us a lot of belief together and also independently going into the last game.

"We had nothing to lose, we knew what we had to do, we were just hopeful something would happen at Dundee.

"It's always the same, people will make comments about St Mirren and the way they were, but we played really, really well, particularly in the first 20 minutes.

"We blew them away, got the goals, and were in a position to hope something was going to go our way in Dundee, which it did."

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Anthony Ralston hailed former Celtic team-mate Ben Doak's "excellent" Scotland impact after the teenager played a key role in the nation's late win over Croatia.

With 86 minutes on the clock, the 10-man visitors were set to leave Hampden with a hard-fought point.

But 19-year-old winger Doak's driving run and strike allowed John McGinn to finish a dramatic winner.

"He has done excellent on the wing," Ralston said of Doak, who is currently on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough from Liverpool.

"I think when you play against 10 men, you just need to get your attackers on the ball as much as possible, move the ball quick and don't dwell on it.

"We had a few [chances before the goal], but you just keep doing it, keep getting the ball wide and get [Doak] one-on-one. Then, thankfully, we got the goal."

Despite ending their long winless run with a much-needed victory, Ralston feels Scotland could have performed better on the night.

But after enduring what the right-back describes as an "unlucky" Nations League campaign, the Celtic man says the side "deserved a bit of luck" in Friday's win.

"We've played better in other games, especially first half," he added. "But when they went down to 10 men it was a different challenge.

"I'd much rather not play better and get the three points than play well and not get the three points."

Chris Sutton has called on Celtic to "blow Rangers out of the water" with a move for Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller. (Daily Record), external

Celtic have no interest in selling in-form winger Nicolas Kuhn in January amid interest from multiple Premier League clubs. (Football Insider), external

Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish gossip.

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Reo Hatate should have been sent off in Celtic's 2-0 victory over Kilmarnock on Sunday, according to the Scottish FA's key match incident review panel.

The Celtic midfielder was booked for catching Liam Donnelly with his studs, and video assistant referee Don Robertson agreed with on-field official Nick Walsh's decision.

However, by a 3-2 majority, the KMI panel has deemed that the offence was serious foul play that "endangered the safety of the opponent" and VAR should have intervened to recommend a red card review.

The incident occurred in the closing stages when Celtic were 2-0 up and Hatate was substituted five minutes from time.

In the same game, the panel unanimously agreed that a yellow card and no VAR intervention was the correct call for Joe Wright's challenge on Adam Idah where the Kilmarnock defender caught the Celtic striker with an elbow.

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Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi was kept waiting for his Japan comeback as they thrashed Indonesia 4-0 in World Cup qualifying.

Kyogo is back Japan squad for the first time in over a year, but was an unused substitute in the comfortable victory in Jakarta.

Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate made his first international appearance since June with a late outing off the bench, while forward Daizen Maeda came on at half-time for Takumi Minamino, who scored Japan's second.

Japan are now at the top of Group C by seven points at the halfway stage of the third round of Asian qualifying for 2026, all but guaranteeing them a World Cup berth.

The Celtic trio will hope to feature in Tuesday's qualifier away to China.

Celtic are reportedly tracking Brondby forward Mathias Kvistgaarden, with Nicolas Kuhn being linked with a Premier League move. (Daily Record), external

Celtic could spend "£5-10m" in January as they attempt to "go further in Europe", according to former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wynass. (Football Insider), external

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Brendan Rodgers "forgot about his ego" by adapting his tactics for Celtic's Champions League away games following the drubbing by Borussia Dortmund, says former midfielder Stiliyan Petrov.

Celtic rebounded from that 7-1 defeat in Germany by battling to a goalless draw against Europa League winners Atalanta in Italy before producing a scintillating 3-1 home victory over RB Leipzig.

Having eased to victory over Slovan Bratislava in their opener, Rodgers' side are well placed to advanced to the knockout rounds of the revamped tournament.

Bulgarian Petrov, who will captain Celtic at the Scottish Masters tonight, live on BBC Scotland, said: "Everything was perfect until Borussia Dortmund and I saw Rodgers decided to change his view about how he needs to approach those games, not to be attacking, he had to take a point away, he managed to do that in a different fashion.

"That gave him real confidence to put in a great performance against Leipzig.

"It is great to see, that is what good managers do. Sometimes the ego of the manager is, 'This is my style, this is how I play, the opposition should worry about what I do.' But you have to take a step back, analyse your mistakes, adjust.

"That is what Brendan did. He forgot about his ego, his style of playing, and he adjusted so the Celtic team can take a point, settle into the game and go to the next one with good confidence."

Petrov says it is "refreshing" that Aberdeen are leading the Premiership challenge to champions Celtic this season.

"They are showing consistency, it seems like they have a manager who has a good style of play, the players react really well to his messages," he added.

"It is important how long you can sustain that form because to win a championship or to be up there, Celtic and Rangers have done it for many years, but it is refreshing to see somebody can push these two teams."

• Watch the Scottish Masters live on BBC Scotland, iPlayer and the BBC Sport website tonight at 19:15 GMT.

A trip to one of the family's favourite Italian eateries the other day didn't just ram pizza and pasta down our throats.

The amount of sparkly decorations, tinsel and festive music made me do a double-take in case I'd somehow time-travelled to Christmas Eve. It made me think it won’t be long before we see promos of Greg Taylor in an elf suit and Cameron Carter-Vickers doing his best Santa impersonation for the annual club video stocking filler.

It also got me wondering whether, in the past few years, the Celtic support has been more optimistic about the upcoming yuletide season?

Here's the wishlist manager Brendan Rodgers is about to post. Wins over Aberdeen in early December and Rangers in early January, with a League Cup winner's medal in between. The next batch of games, including Club Brugge at the end of November, could also guarantee the club a place in the latter stages of the Champions League.

I'd wager it's quite a while since the Parkhead punters were licking their lips this time of year at the prospect of the holiday football schedule.

Last year there was quite the wobble when a home draw with Motherwell was followed by defeats to Kilmarnock and Hearts.

The previous year, even though Ange Postecoglou would proceed to win the treble, a 5-1 thumping at Real Madrid confirmed Celtic would be picking up just two of the available 18 Champions League points.

The season before that, the big Aussie was still building a squad and gave Rangers an eight-point start before overhauling Giovanni van Bronckhorst's men in the Reo Hatate 'demolition derby' of early February 2022.

As for the festive period in 2020? It's best not to mention that too loudly around some Celtic fans for fear of triggering very unpleasant memories. Celtic 1-4 Sparta Prague. Celtic 0-2 Ross County. You get the drift.

As autumn turns sharply to winter now, however, there is barely a cloud on Celtic's horizon. Just the two points shed in a Premiership campaign livened up – for them as well as us – by the excellence of Aberdeen thus far, matching Brendan Rodgers' men stride for impressive stride.

Pittodrie on the evening of 4 December, anyone? A 'must listen' on Sportsound for the live action. Appointment viewing on Sportscene for the highlights after.

The week after, there's a trip to Dinamo Zagreb that could confirm – if it hasn't already been settled - Celtic's Champions League progression. Dining at European football's top table isn't leaving a sour taste in the club's mouth this time around.

Indeed, there's every chance the fans will be tucking into their Christmas turkey with extra relish, while salivating at the prospect of a second helping of Champions League for the first time in well over a decade.

Celtic and Rangers ready to move for 18-year-old midfielder Lennon Miller, but Motherwell will hold out for a £4m fee for the Scotland Under-19 international. (Daily Mail), external

Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel expects a decision to be made next year about whether an option to extend his contract for another 12 months beyond the summer will be triggered for the 38-year-old. (Tipsbladet), external

Troy Deeney says he rejected a £40,000 per week offer from Celtic and instead accepted Birmingham City's £12,000 deal after the 36-year-old striker was released by Watford two years ago. (Under The Cosh podcast), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering your questions on Celtic.

Ian asked: You criticise Celtic's performance against Borussia Dortmund. Do you believe following that match Brendan Rodgers has learned to be more tactically astute when facing superior opposition?

Tom answered: I think something changed and I hope it's changed for good because Rodgers said that he wouldn't change, he wouldn't compromise in Europe after the Dortmund game, but he has.

He has brought in an element of pragmatism, an element of caution. He certainly did it in Bergamo against Atalanta and they got a terrific 0-0 draw. They were clearly different there. There was less risk taken.

They took fewer gambles on the ball. They closed down the space very, very well. They still rode their luck but they deserved it. They got a great point there. There was a much better balance in their game in Bergamo.

I was very interested to see what they were going to do against Leipzig, a fine team, second best team in Germany. Could they still have that ability to stay in a fight? That pragmatism? Could they add a few layers on to it and take the fight to Leipzig? They did all of that and more.

Their performance against Leipzig blew me away. I thought it was a magnificent performance, best Celtic performance I've seen in at least five years in any competition, and I just thought maybe they've turned a corner here.

They're in a great position in the Champions League now, this massive new group that we have, and they're motoring. They've had two really excellent, very different performances.

Sportscene pundit Lee Miller ponders whether his former club Aberdeen are capable of sustaining a title challenge to Brendan Rodgers' Celtic, with the sides currently neck and neck at the top after 11 games.

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Brentford hold an interest in Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn but have no plans to sign the in-form German in January. (The Standard), external

Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon is "actively looking at the minute" for his next opportunity to return to management but has admitted his next could be his last. (Glasgow Times), external

Celtic and Bayern Munich are tied at an average of 69.6% as the teams who enjoy the biggest share of possession in their domestic football this season, according to data from Wyscout. (Scottish Sun), external