Brendan Rodgers’ son Anton played in Celtic’s pre-season friendly victory over BW Linz.
Brendan Rodgers has explained that his son Anton Rodgers featured in Celtic’s pre-season friendly victory over BW Linz due to the number of injuries within the Hoops squad, and essentially confirmed that the midfielder is not a target for the side, the Daily Record reports.
The 24-year-old is a free agent following his departure from Swindon at the end of last season, and turned out to be a surprise inclusion in the Bhoys squad that travelled for their pre-season tour.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers
So it would have been an even greater surprise for Celtic fans when they saw that Rodgers Junior featured for 45 minutes of the 1-0 win over Linz.
But Rodgers has explained that the number of players that were unavailable for the contest meant that he had little choice but to hand his son a run-out – though he also dropped a major hint that he will, indeed, not be joining the club this summer by suggesting that his plans involve heading back to England.
“Anton has come with us over the course of the last week or so just to get fit really. His season won’t start down in England for another week or so. So I had asked him to come in, he was capable,” he said, as reported by the Daily Record.
“We had a few injuries to our midfield players; Eboue Kouassi and Kristoffer Ajer were injured. So I know he can play.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers with his son Anton
“He’s technically very gifted, he’s got a good view of the game and he can come in and slot in with the players and he did that and I thought he did well.”
Though Rodgers has suggested that injuries forced his hand, it may perhaps annoy some Celtic supporters that a player who looks set to be playing his football elsewhere next season has been given a chance when they could have surely given a Hoops player an opportunity.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
