Rodgers' sympathy for Scots boss Clarke after McGregor's masterclass

Brendan Rodgers admitted he felt sorry for the watching Steve Clarke as Callum McGregor reminded the Scotland manager what he’s about to miss.

Two days after announcing his international retirement, the Celtic skipper secured a 2-0 victory over Hibs at Easter Road with a superb strike from distance.

While Rodgers feels Celtic will only benefit from the 31-year-old scaling back his schedule, he felt a twinge of sympathy for the Scotland boss as he contemplates life without the midfielder.

‘He was brilliant,’ said Rodgers. ‘That’s what happens when you retire from Scotland!

‘Hopefully, there are many more goals to come. I’ve managed him in so many games, over the two spells here now. I know his quality. I know his game inside out.

‘It doesn’t surprise me. He’s scored so many goals for me, especially in the first spell, then a few this spell. It was a wonderful strike. That’s what you need in your team and he possesses quality.

‘I do feel for Steve because he (McGregor) is a quality player, of course. But, from a Celtic perspective, for longevity, for him, his career, his recovery… there’s so many games now, it’s a 12-month season.

‘For him to get these little periods of recovery will be important for him. Those little windows where you can give him that breather will do him the world of good.’

Ahead inside three minutes through Nicolas Kuhn, Celtic looked good for the three points by the time the half-time whistle blew.

Having made a habit of scoring four goals in pre-season and against Kilmarnock in the opening league game of the campaign, Rodgers was reluctant to complain about a failure to reach that number in Leith.

However, he felt that a cutting edge was all that was missing from the second half performance.

‘The result and performance were very good,’ he added. ‘Easter Road is one of the toughest places to come in Scottish football, so I thought we managed the game very well.

‘We made a great start and we were really slick in other moments in the game. If I was nitpicking, I would say we have to be more clinical.

‘We scored two and again could have had four or five. So, the creative side’s there, balance was really good in the team and it’s a very good win for us.

‘I’m not going to be critical. Write whatever headline you want. What I’m saying is that we could have finished more opportunities, but I’m not going to criticise the players today.’

A slow transfer window to date means Kyogo Furuhashi is Rodgers’ only out-and-out centre-forward, with winger Mikey Johnston having to replace the Japanese star after he needed treatment on his troublesome shoulder.

Rodgers confirmed that there was no immediate concern over his striker but reiterated the need to bolster his squad.

‘His shoulder popped out,’ he said. ‘I think it’s just one of those ones that he had a fall and it knocked it out. The guys put it back in again, but he felt the soreness. I don’t need to risk him.

‘We know what we need. We’ve always known what we need. Hopefully we can strengthen the squad over the coming weeks.’

Meanwhile David Gray maintained that he’s not worried by Hibs’ poor start to the season which has left them without a point and yet to score a goal in this league campaign.

‘I don’t think I would use the word worried,’ said manager Gray. ‘It is only two league games.

‘There is a bit of short-term pain, at the moment, for what I believe will be long-term gain.

‘If you look over the past week, from where the squad was to where it is now, we do have competition for places. It’s not where it needs to be yet.

‘We’ve got players to come back from injury, we’ve got players to join the group. And, while the window is open, we’ll be trying to improve the squad.

‘I do believe we’ll get there. I’m confident in that.’