Manager: We're looking forward to tough test against Hibs | OneFootball

Brendan Rodgers is looking forward to returning to Celtic Park as a Champion as his side face their first home game since securing a fourth consecutive title.

Hibernian are the visitors to Paradise, and David Gray’s side will provide a tough test for the Hoops, given they are still looking to secure third place in the table.

But it’s a game that the Celtic manager is looking forward to.

Speaking ahead of the game, he confirmed that there will be changes to the line-up tomorrow, and also for the midweek trip to Pittodrie, while he also confirmed that Kasper Schmeichel has returned to the squad following his injury lay-off.

“It’s been an interesting one because if Kasper had stayed fit we may not have seen so much of Vil,” Brendan Rodgers said, “in which case we would have had a decision in the summer because he’s a very talented young goalkeeper.

“But indirectly, the situation has really helped us and cleared up that thinking because he’s been excellent when he’s played.

“He’s played with real authority and calmness for such a young goalkeeper, and there was a big test at Ibrox last weekend and he came through that really well.

“So I’ve been really pleased for him. Kasper, clearly, was our number one goalkeeper. He’s been brilliant for us all season, so it’s just really good to have him back and available, and we’ll just assess it from there.

“Over the course of the next three games, and in particular the next two, there will be lots of changes – players that I want to give an opportunity to, players that deserve the opportunity to play, the opportunity to recover some because I think this our 55th game of the season.

“So that’s a lot of games, but certainly over the course of the next week there will be changes in the team.”

Saturday’s Premiership clash with Hibernian will be the sixth meeting between the sides this season, with the most recent encounter coming back in March when the beat won 2-0 in a Scottish Cup tie.

“It was obviously very difficult for David and his team and the club right through until November, and it’s sort of been like a reversal of Aberdeen,” said the Celtic manager.

“They had that brilliant start but then the second part of the season has been a little bit more challenging, and for David it was the reverse of that, with a challenging first part.

“But since he changed the system in November when they went to a back five, that structure has really helped the team.

“But now they had and they went on a fantastic run and in all fairness, when we played them back in the cup game a number of weeks back, they arrived in that moment in a really good place.

“However, we played a really good game that day and we know we’ll to play another really good game because they have targets they want to achieve in these last three games.

“We also have targets. We’re at home also, and we want to bring our level of game, but it should be a fantastic game of football.”

Watch the manager’s full press conference

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