Celtic's Rodgers outlines plastic pitch 'considerations'

How is everyone from the midweek game? How is Cameron Carter-Vickers?

We'll assess Cameron over the next couple of days. He didn't pull his hamstring but we just had an MRI scan on that just to make sure he is okay. We are just awaiting the results of that.

Is there a chance he will play this weekend?

If the scan results show nothing then clearly.

Playing away at a pitch like Kilmarnock do you think twice about putting players in that might not be 100 per cent?

Well, you have to think clearly about the surface and about the guys that have certain injuries - knees and ankles - it is a consideration but I won't overthink it either. It is a tough game for us and we want to have the strongest squad available to try and win it.

In terms of the League Cup game at Rugby Park earlier this season. Have you been looking back at it this week? Do you know exactly what went wrong? How do you make sure that doesn't happen again on Sunday?

You can't promise anything but what you can say is that the team is in a far different place than that it is now. It was a good time to play us with players coming in and the challenges we would have had at the beginning of the season. It is a different team now in terms of organisation, structure and attitude. Everything is different. It doesn't mean it is going to be an easy game. Derek (McInnes) has really put his team in a good place in the top six. They are hard to beat and we travel there knowing it is going to be a tough game. Certainly from our perspective, we look like we are in a different place.

Talking about a different place, where are you at the moment? Is the confidence high after the midweek result where you scored lots of goals and do you feel that you are getting to where you want it to be?

Yes, it is still a way off. I think when you have had the disruptions we have had over the early part of the season it is important to win and I think the other night against Hibs we won really well. We scored goals, created opportunities and dominated the game against a good side. We arrive into the game mentally and physically in a good place and very clear on how we are working.

Is that the standards that you set at the start of the season like creating plenty of chances and scoring four goals against good opposition?

It is what we have set from the very beginning. The players are not robots. They want to do it every game and they try to do it in every game but sometimes the opponent is tough to break down or we can't finish. Our idea of the game is always to go out and be aggressive and proactive and the players have shown that numerous times this season.

Oh (Hyeon-gyu) got two goals in midweek and Kyogo (Furuhashi) came on at the hour mark. How difficult a choice is it between those two when both are performing so well?

It's not difficult we just pick the best team to play the game.

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When it comes to January, is that a position that you are looking to give competition to those two?

It will depend. Clearly, over the last few months, we have been trying to anticipate the guys who will go away to the Asian Cup. Clearly, if Daizen (Maeda), Oh and Kyogo are away then we would have to do something in the market.

This is the third of nine games in 30 days for Celtic. How challenging has this period been for you?

Yes, it has but that's part of being at a big club, you are going to get games. For every club in this period, there are games compacted with very little rest and recovery in between. We have known that and the players have coped well with it. We will now look forward to our next game on Sunday and look to maintain the level.

Looking forward to Sunday there have been a few reports about plastic pitches potentially being banned as early as the start of next season. Is that something you would be in favour of ahead of a game at Rugby Park?

It is a constant conversation and I think it is pretty clear that every coach would want to play on a grass pitch. I think the sooner that becomes a possibility, then the better it will be for everybody. I understand the economics of it all and what it will mean to some clubs but I think there should be a certain level and a certain standard for every team that if you play in the top flight then you play on a grass pitch.

You mentioned in midweek that you were looking for more from Mikey Johnston. How do you strike that balance between putting an arm around him and telling him what you want or giving him some tough love and letting him develop on his own?

That is always the challenge of a coach. You are always trying to find many ways to do it, but of course, it is always best to be honest. Mikey knows that. The reason Mikey is still here now from the summer is because I rate him as a player. I could have easily put him out on loan in the summer having not played or featured so much last year. I know his talent and I want to try and do everything that I can possibly can to maximise that talent. He's made great strides in his training performance in terms of his consistency and being available. He's made an impact coming off the bench. I know how much he wants to play and start for Celtic. Whenever you get those opportunities, I know he was disappointed with himself the other night, but without forcing it, you are hoping that you can see the qualities that he has on a regular basis. He's a very, very talented player and one of the very best to come out of the academy here in terms of talent, individual quality, one-on-one, speed, and he's got stronger as well. He is not a baby anymore. He's 24 and if you want to play for a club like Celtic and in the starting line-up regularly then you have to have robustness. You need to be mentally strong. You have to be competitive and physically brave. All these things are part of being a player at Celtic as well as talent. I will always give every player the chance if I think they have that talent.

Is he an example of how playing for a club this size is not just about talent it is about the demands that are placed upon you?

It's the expectation. It's the difference at the very top clubs. The pressure is relentless. The expectation is there and you have to prepare yourself and that's why you have to give a special mention to those guys who can sustain it over long periods of time like Callum McGregor. His hunger has to be celebrated because of the length of time he has been here and how long he has been doing it and how hungry he is every single season and his availability for games. He defaults himself to his profession and not everyone can be like that because it's hard and it is tough every single day. That's what playing for a big club is about.

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We spoke to Greg Taylor about his desire to be part of that 23-man Scotland Euro squad. Is his desire and other desire to be included in the squad something you can harness domestically?

I don't think I need to. I think players first and foremost know that to play at Celtic you have to play at the very highest level. Greg knows that in Steve Clarke he has a coach who knows him inside out and knows and knows what he is capable of and what he will bring to the squad even if he isn't playing. Ultimately, it is being the very best that you can be here that will always give you the greater possibility to do that.

What kind of challenge are you expecting from Kilmarnock on Sunday? You talk about the pitch but what are you expecting from the team itself?

I think Derek likes to get the ball up early into the final third of the pitch and they then look to play while they are in there by getting the ball wide and crossing into the box. They have good physicality in the team and they really load up the last line to get bodies in the box. We have to defend well and we pray for a wee bit of rain that will make the surface nice and greasy and hopefully, we can see a half-decent football game.