Good and bad news from Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·14 February 2025

Good and bad news from Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers

Let’s start with the bad news. Paulo Bernardo is wearing a moon-boot for an ankle injury that looks like keeping him out for around four weeks…

Paulo Bernardo of Celtic leaves the pitch injured during the Scottish Cup match between Celtic FC and Raith Rovers FC at Celtic Park on February 08, 2025 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Paulo Bernardo looked upset as he limped off the park in the first half against Raith Rovers on Saturday in the Scottish Cup fifth round match at Celtic Park.

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Afterwards Brendan Rodgers played down the extent of any injury and reckoned that the Portuguese midfielder would be fine for the UEFA Champions League play-off first leg against Bayern Munich on Wednesday night, again at Celtic Park. However when the team was announced at around 6.45pm there was no sign of the Paulo in the squad, which left the support fearing the worst.

Paulo Bernardo during the Premier Sports Cup Final between Celtic and theRangers at Hampden on Sunday 15 December 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Today at his media conference ahead of tomorrow’s Scottish Premiership match – also at Celtic Park – against Dundee United, Brendan Rodgers confirmed the bad news that Bernardo will be missing for an extended period.

“Paulo has got his ankle in a boot. So, yeah, so he’ll be maybe four or five weeks,” Brendan revealed, as reported by Daily Record. “Paolo’s obviously done great for us this season and what we’ve tried to do with all the players is try and show we keep them fit by rotating and maximising the whole squad.

“Obviously, sadly, he’s out for another little while. But like you say, we’ve still got good numbers in that position. With so many games, it’s needed.”

And the good news from the manager is that James Forrest is now back out in the grass as he gets closer to being considered for match day squads. That won’t happen tomorrow, or indeed on Tuesday night but the veteran winger should be back over the next few weeks looking to repeat his fine end of season form from last year that helped Celtic retain the title.

Celtic v Hibernian – Scottish Premiership. James Forrest during the match at Celtic Park on Saturday December 7, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

“James took his first day on the pitch yesterday,” the Celtic manager said. “So he’s starting to move and jog. So hopefully in the coming weeks, he’ll be coming back. I said to him he came alive at this time last season. In February and March, he came and saved the day.

“He’s a brilliant player, and he made a great contribution at the beginning of the season for us as well. Maybe it’s the cold weather, he’s getting a bit older now and he doesn’t like the winter!

Idah, Forrest and Yang. Hearts v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Tynecastle. 23 November 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“But no, he’ll be a great addition when he comes back. Tuesday will be a bit early for him though. He’s nowhere near that. He’s just planted his foot out on the grass yesterday for the first time. So it’s going to be a few weeks yet.”

Forrest picked up the injury in the early stages of extra time in the Premier Sports League Cup Final win over theRangers. However as Rodgers had already used all his substitutions Forrest played on and helped the team get the victory. He has scored in every season he has been at Celtic bar this one so he will be desperate to get back and find the back of the net.

Haste ye back Paulo and see you shortly Jamesy.

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