CELTIC boss Brendan Rodgers reckons Jonny Hayes will make a massive contribution to the champions.
The Republic of Ireland international winger netted his first goal for the club in the 9-0 hammering of Shamrock Rovers.
Rodgers reckons the £1.3million signing from Aberdeen winger will be an important part of his team as they get ready for their first Champions League qualifier against Linfield.
He said: “When you’re an attacking player and come to your new club it’s important to get off the mark early.
“Jonny has settled in very well off the field. He is a good guy, a mature guy and he has mixed in really well over the last couple of weeks.
“We don’t need to rush him, but he’s going to make a big contribution to the squad and you saw that today in the half hour he was on, when he showed his pace and his crossing ability. He has an eye for a goal.
“He got his goal and that will make him happy and he can continue to build on that throughout the season.”
The Hoops ran amok at the Tallaght Stadium with Stuart Armstrong and Scott Sinclair hitting doubles, while Hayes, Mikael Lustig, Moussa Dembele, James Forrest and Tom Rogic also added to the scoreline.
Rodgers added: “It’s the identity of trademark of the team which we have created.
“They never relaxed and kept working. I thought defensively, fundamentally, we were very good in terms of our pressing.
“These are the games where you are building up that element of fitness to go and press and get on the ball and then from that our quality came through.
“We were very good in some of our play and some of the goals we scored. It was very pleasing. It was only our fourth game, but I can see the development in how the team is building.”
NEW CQN PODCAST WITH SFA PRESIDENT ALAN RAE OUT NOW!
Episode 2 of ‘A Celtic State of Mind’ finds Paul John Dykes and Kevin Graham discussing a variety of topical subjects concerning Celtic Football Club, including:
* Callum McGregor: The Youth of Today;
* Death of the Cult Hero;
* Norwegian Wood – Ronnie Deila’s Exit Interview;
* Farewell to The Stone Roses;
* Hillsborough: The Truth.
Paul John Dykes also chats to SFA President, Alan McRae, to challenge him over recent comments made about Celtic’s domination of Scottish football.
Connect with A Celtic State of Mind @PaulDykes and @CQNMagazine or just listen using the link below…
