Danger for Rangers will come from Celtic star Tom Rogic’s size 14s

BRENDAN RODGERS reckons Tom Rogic can add another chapter to his already illustrious Celtic career by shooting the Hoops to the title.

The Australian internationalist clinched the Treble for his team with his late winner against Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final last season.

And the perfect indication of his well-being this year is the fact he has already scored against today’s opponents, Rangers, on three separate occasions during this campaign.

Small wonder, then, that his manager fancies his chances of making an impact once again this afternoon.

“Tom is a really special talent, and the mark of the big players is the significant contributions they make in the big games,” he said

“He gives you that, and for that reason he will always be in the history books here at Celtic.

“I think he is the best player we have got at understanding where the space is on the football pitch.

“And that vision allows him to receive the ball better than anyone.

“His reception skills are amazing. He has the brain to find space.

“We see it in training every day and in the games. That’s why he’s so elusive.

“He’s difficult to pin down because he can find the space and from there, technically, he can score.

“Plus, of course, he is a technically highly-gifted and a great finisher.”

It speaks volumes, too, of Rodgers’ regard for Rogic that he speaks about him in the same breath as Barcelona star, Philippe Coutinho.

“Tom had a Futsal background, and another Futsal player I worked with was Coutinho.

“For the young players at Liverpool, we did a split screen of Philippe, when he was 10 or 11, playing Futsal, and he was virtually exactly the same as a 19 or 20-year-old.

“That was his game – manipulating the ball, how you receive the ball and the confidence it gave him. The ball’s a bit softer in Futsal, so you can manipulate it and gain confidence with it.

“Tom has about size 14 feet, so how he works the ball around plates that size is even more incredible!

“That’s what people won’t recognise. He’s a size 14 or something, but his feet are soft and he’s got a great view of the game. And he likes to score goals

“What I really like about him, though, is that he’s got a real inward aggression.

“He’s not timid. I’ve seen him become stronger physically in his time here, more robust.

“He’s been unfortunate a couple of times when he’s been out injured but he has a real inward aggressive streak.

“We know his strength, as well as his technical ability, and that’s what you need if you’re going to perform.”