Stuart Armstrong believes Celtic let a quality player go in Gary Mackay-Steven last summer

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Brendan Rodgers are set to take on Gary Mackay-Steven’s Aberdeen side at the weekend.

Celtic midfielder Stuart Armstrong has told the Herald Scotland that he believes Brendan Rodgers let a quality player go, when he sold Gary Mackay-Steven last summer.

Mackay-Steven left Celtic to join Aberdeen six months ago, which broke up the attacker’s time with Armstrong.

The pair had both been brought to Celtic at the same time, having previously been teammates at Dundee United.

Mackay-Steven and Armstrong both remain good friends, but they will be up against each other when Celtic take on Aberdeen at the weekend.

And Armstrong believes Celtic will have to be on their guard to protect themselves against Mackay-Steven’s threat.

“Look, he is a quality player – I have played with him for five years or so and seen his qualities day in day out in training,” Armstrong said.

“Sometimes things just don’t work out in certain places but he is definitely showing his quality again at Aberdeen.

“I think you will have seen in the past what a threatening player Gary can be.

“On that day he scored three, he is a very good player – one we will need to look out for and try to account for. He is one of my closest friends so when somebody you know does well you are always happy for them. I was really pleased to score three and fulfil his potential like that.”

Celtic’s recent defeat to Hearts has given hope to the chasing pack, that there may be some sort of a title race.

Aberdeen are currently in second place in the Scottish Premiership table, and if the Dons can beat the Bhoys then they will start to put pressure on Rodgers’ side.

Celtic currently have a five point cushion at the top of the league, after beating Partick Thistle in midweek.