Brendan Rodgers – Plans in place for Celtic’s friendly with Sligo Rovers

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The Celtic Star

·8 October 2024

Brendan Rodgers – Plans in place for Celtic’s friendly with Sligo Rovers

Brendan Rodgers confirmed that he will be in the dugout for the exhibition match in Ireland against Sligo Rovers tomorrow night at the completely sold-out Showgrounds….

IMAGO / Inpho Photography. SSE Airtricity League Premier Division, The Showgrounds, Co. Sligo 21/9/2024 Sligo Rovers vs Dundalk. The Showgrounds 21/9/2024. Photo INPHO Sligo Rovers v Dundalk

The always dreaded international break is upon us but both our Ghirls and Bhoys are still in action with a UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage debut for Celtic FC Women this evening against Dutch Champions FC Twente at New Douglas Park, then there’s a friendly on Wednesday evening when the Bhoys take on League of Ireland side Sligo Rovers.

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Sligo Rovers eye Irish title push

John Russell’s team who currently sit 6th in their domestic table will be using the Celtic game as preparation for their final four league games.

Meanwhile, the title race in Ireland remains wide open with Sligo seven points off league leaders Shelbourne managed by former Celtic assistant coach Damien Duff, Brendan Rodgers will most likely play a mix of squad players and B team regulars.

IMAGO / Inpho Photography Friendly, Tallaght Stadium, Dublin 7/7/2018 Shamrock Rovers vs Celtic Scott Brown leads out Celtic 7/7/2018 Photo:©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

It’ll be the first time Celtic will have faced an Irish side since Shamrock Rovers in 2018. The Celts won 7-0 at the Tallaght Stadium and will be looking to replicate a similar scoreline against Sligo.

Friendly, Tallaght Stadium, Dublin 7/7/2018 Shamrock Rovers vs Celtic Celtic’s Scott Sinclair scores their sixth goal of the game. 7/7/2018 Photo©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Tomorrow night’s clash will take place only a few miles away from the birthplace of Celtic founder, Brother Walfrid.

Brendan Rodgers’ pre-match comments

Looking ahead to the match, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers outlined, “I’ll be there. I’ll be taking the team. That plan was in place a few months back. We’ll need to recover some players. But there’s going to be a number of players that need games.

“So it’ll be a mixture of our first team players in the squad and also some of our young players because it’s my chance to see them. But yes, we’ll go over there. It’s always great to go back home. And then we’ll prepare them for Aberdeen.”

With several players on international duty, it will be a much changed side. But, the aim will be to put on a show for the thousands of Celtic supporters who will be in attendance from both sides of the Irish Sea.

Conor Spence