BOSS COMES CLEAN ON COMPPER

BRENDAN RODGERS has accepted the responsibility for the £1.2million flop signing of one-time German international Marvin Compper.

The central defender joined Celtic from RB Leipzig in January and has played only 81 minutes of first team football, the 3-0 Scottish Cup win over Morton at Parkhead on March 3.

Since then, there have been few sightings of 33-year-old Compper who has struggled with injuries and a lack of the match fitness demanded by the Hoops manager.

The experienced campaigner, with one international appearance for his country, was seen as an ideal replacement in the middle of the rearguard if Dedryck Boyata, entering the last year of his contract, moved on in the summer.

The club had already paid £1.2million to Dundee for Jack Hendry, Kristoffer Ajer was emerging as a real talent at centre-back and Jozo Simunovic was also there to provide competition.

However, Compper has failed to fit into the jigsaw and Rodgers refused to duck the issue.

He said: “Marvin was brought in to provide experience, but he has struggled for fitness and the unpredictability of his fitness has played a part.

“If anyone is to blame then blame me.

“Marvin is an extremely professional player and it’s an emotional time towards the end of your career. He has been a great help to the younger players.”Compper’s contract will run until 2020, but he could still be offloaded before it expires.

In a deadline day-beating swoop, Rodgers brought in Leicester City’s Croatian Under-21 stopper Filip Benkovic on loan, but faces the threat of the cultured defender being recalled by the Midlands outfit in January.