Why Celtic's focus is on Dundee and not on events up north

Can we have an update on Adam Idah?

Yeah, he goes for a scan today, so we should find out a bit later on how that is. It was a nasty knock that he took so we'll see how that is working. I can't worry until I get the results back. I think that it was a poor challenge, and thankfully the ground was a bit wet, so his foot was able to move a little bit, if it was a dry pitch his foot could have stuck on the field then it could have been a really, really bad one. He's got a wee bit more movement in the last couple of days, so we're hopeful that he'll come out of it OK.

What about Callum McGregor is he back tomorrow night?

Well, again, we'll just asses and see how he reacts to what we're going to do today. If not, then we'll definitely have to come to a decision.

You've got these injuries but some amazing players are coming in now. How encouraging is it for you that you have these players that can come in and step up?

Yeah, it's very important, a club this size with so many games, that all the players have a role to play in a lot of the games, and we've seen that at the weekend, the guys coming into the team. I think because of how we work, it's very systematic in our approach. We understand the players all understand how we play, and so when they come in they understand, and they're very clear on their role. So it's just about bringing that energy and commitment to that, and everyone is committed to the way of working. Sometimes you'll make the changes, and sometimes they can make a fool of you, but you have to do it with so many games taking place, and that's something that we will look at in each game.

Speaking of Adam Idah how frustrating is it to lose a player of his calibre, given the nature of the challenge on him in that game?

Well, we haven't lost him yet, so we'll wait and see what the scan says. It wasn't a great challenge. As I said, after the game, you don't have a lot of time as a manager and coach to look at these things in great detail, but when you actually come away and look at it, I still see that he obviously didn't mean to do any harm with it, but it was a poor challenge, it was late at that stage of the game.

A positive in that game was Luke McCowan. Has he staked a real claim to get a start against his old club tomorrow?

No, no, he's just done very well in the game. I think that for all the players coming into the squad in the summer, it's just step by step, finding the intensity in our training, finding out the way we play, because as I've put to you, it's a very complex way in which we try and get, especially the midfield players, how we want them to operate. He settled in very, very well. It was he and other players who had deserved starts before, but the team had been doing so well and working so well. But it was great he made that contribution. I think he came in, showed that energy, showed that quality that he had, the work rate. As I said, he and a few of the other guys who have just come in are settling into that way of working and the set-up and the structure of the team. He's done very well, so we'll give him an opportunity tomorrow again.

Has Cameron Carter-Vickers come through that test against Motherwell?

Yes, well, he'll be in the squad tomorrow. It's nice to get him out there. As I said, there's not a lot of training time between all the games, so it's important that he comes in. He's got a new boot that has stabilised his foot as well, but he seems to have reacted well to that. So, he'll be in the squad for tomorrow.

How challenging a situation is that to manage?

Like I say, for all the centre-halves, it's just being in the best condition that you can be in. I think the two guys that you mentioned - Auston Trusty and Liam Scales have been fantastic. A lot of the games that they've played together. It really is about a squad because the same two players cannot play all the way through the season. So, yes, we have to make sure that as many of them are fit and available as we possibly can all over the pitch.

Just going back to the Idah challenge. Are you surprised by Stuart's (Kettlewell) reaction that it is not a red card? It is a poor challenge when you see it again and again, is it not? Do you think he'll maybe change his opinion on that?

Managers sometimes after the game find it difficult as you are coming into the dressing room and there are so many things that you have to look at and then you are going to do your press duty. Sometimes as a manager, you don't get a true look and reflection at an incident. I said afterwards that the players didn't look like they were meant to make the challenge again, but it's still a poor challenge He's on the stretch, he's off the floor and it's a bad challenge. So, I don't think you can deny that it's not that. So, I think when Stuart sees it again he will see that as well. I'd expect he'd have to defend his player, but it's still a poor challenge. It's one of those things that hopefully Adam has got away with it. I think when you see it on reflection, you would say it was a sending-off. Fingers crossed for Adam and our squad that he can come through it and be OK.

If Adam doesn't make it does that leave a space for Daizen to possibly play up front and can you see him being asked to deputies going forward?

If needed. I said it earlier this season when Daizen played up front he scored two goals. I think it's a position he can play. We want to have as many of our players available for all the games that we have. It is a position that Daizen can play.

I know you say that your focus is on your own team, but the fans are looking at a different game. How do you approach it in that sense?

It's a game between second and third but of course, our focus is on our own game. You can only look after yourself. I'm so pleased I have a team that can play and have everything functioning and have everything working. If we look and think of anything else, that can take away from our performance. I'm sure it will be a really good game. It always is. Aberdeen Rangers vs Aberdeen, it's a big game. But we have a massive game at home to Dundee. That's our only focus. The result can be whatever. Irrespective we are only 10 games in. For us, it's about focusing on getting three points, playing football, and entertaining our supporters. That's ultimately what we can control.

Luke McCowan revealed that he has been working with a mindset coach is it good to see players think outside the box like that?

It is great to hear that. It is something that for so long in the game has been ignored. Everybody has looked at the technical aspects, but not looked at the players physically, but actually preparing your mind is arguably the biggest thing. The mindset plays a massive part in whether you succeed. So, yeah, it's great that he's able to do things like that. I think a lot of the modern players now see themselves as very much self-employed. They work for a club, they work within a team, but they want to do everything they can to make themselves better. It's always great. You know, a lot of the players, we need different tools. Yeah, I'm all for that, just maximising what you can get out of your career. If there's someone there to help Luke lift the burdens then that's just important for him, that's good news.

How much have guys like Auston and Luke and others coming in helped keep the competition healthy and things at a consistent level?

I think consistency in the approach is what's important. I think you've seen in the early part of the season when he had one game a week. We didn't have to change so much, we were playing well, and the intensity was there. To maintain that over the course of such a busy period over a three, four, or five-month schedule, then you have to make the changes. Sometimes it won't always look how you want it to look in the game but you have to do it. You have to do it for fitness, to protect against injuries. You try to prevent as much as you can. We have all the markers now, and all the signs that can tell us where someone is at. But also it's about feeling, it's about experience, and the feeling is that we want to give as much energy as we can. The approach that we have as a team in terms of the structure, that way of walking, way of playing, that's what's most important because then players can come into it and be very clear on their role. That's what I would hope that supporters and people can see. No matter what changes we make, our most important player is the team. The team is what will make you shine as an individual player.

Are Dundee's performances and results not quite in sync just now and are they better than where they are just now?

Yeah, I just think you go through little runs. The Kilmarnock game would have hurt them before the international break, having been up in the game and then losing that one. They got a good win against Mother World, which is a tough place to go and then to lose at the weekend. So yeah, probably the last five or six games have not been as ideal in terms of results, but Tony's done a fantastic job. They have lost their best player, and he's the captain in the summer, so that can always make an impact. As I said, Tony has good experience in the game. I think how he's managed his club has been fantastic. You go through spells in this league, where you maybe don't get the run of games and the run of results. For us, I always think it's a dangerous moment for Celtic because they are always looking for that performance and you know that teams will always get that extra bit against the champions and Celtic. So we have to guard against that and make sure that we're right on our game and look to win and obviously win how we want to.