Brendan Rodgers has revealed that Carl Starfelt is on the Celtic bench due to a possible Parkhead transfer exit.

The central defender was a stalwart in Ange Postecoglou's team over the past two seasons, but he now looks set to depart the club.

Celtic are braced for bids for the Swedish international and updating on the defender pre-match today, Rodgers explained: "Carl is in a position where he may be leaving the club.

"He has been fantastic and really respectful, but he is in a position where we may lose him. This is a chance for Maik (Nawrocki) to build a partnership with Cam (Carter-Vickers)."

Pre-match Celtic hero Chris Sutton commented on the speculation. He said: "With regards to Carl Starfelt these noises have been doing the rounds for a while now, Kris is right.

"I would not be in a hurry to get Carl Starfelt out the door at Celtic whether he is first choice or not. Celtic need more than two bodies in that centre-back position.

"The foundations that he set with Cameron Carter-Vickers over the past couple of seasons have been really important for Celtic."

Ahead of kick-off against Ross County it was also revealed that Rodgers turned down the chance to manage in Saudi Arabia before joining Celtic for a second stint.

He explained to Sky Sports: "I'd spoken to a few clubs when I left Leicester over the course of the summer but it just didn't feel right. I spoke to a team in Saudi, which didn't feel right a couple of times. Then Ange leaves and Dermot rang me and was very kind in his words, talked about the possibility of coming back. Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay then flew out to Mallorca and we had a long chat.

"It gave me real thinking then that I needed to look in to a bit more. Met up with Callum and had a really good chat with him. After that it whetted my appetite more and I thought to myself, I always wanted to come back. That was the reality for me. I never regretted leaving but I know I hurt a lot of people. I've been a Celtic man and boy, if that [first spell] was my last ever go at it, I didn't want it to be that. I wouldn't be in Scotland if it wasn't for Celtic, but it's mine. It's my people."