Brendan Rodgers looking forward to Tannadice debut | OneFootball

Brendan Rodgers takes his Celtic squad to Tanandice this Sunday for an important league game against Dundee United.

The Hoops, who lifted the first silverware of the season with a well-deserved League Cup final victory last weekend, are nine points clear at the top of the Premiership table and with a game in hand over nearest rivals Aberdeen.

And three points are the target in what will be Brendan Rodgers’ first competitive match against Dundee United.

Celtic will have to do so without James Forrest who has been ruled out for up to six weeks after getting injured in the cup final, while Alistair Johnston’s progress is being monitored, although if the Canadian internationalist does miss out on Sunday, he should be fine for the other festive fixtures.

Speaking at Lennxtown today, the Celtic manager said: “It will be a tough challenge. I’m really looking forward to going there.

“I’ve never been to Tannadice and I’ve not faced them as a manager, but I know the history of Dundee United growing up and following Celtic, what they were back then and what a tough place it was to go to.

“But I expect a tough game as well. I think Jim’s organised his team ever so well.

"They mix the game up in how they play, so we go there and we know we have to be really good in the game and that’s what we aim to be.”

One player who will be in the squad for Sunday’s game at Tannadice is Greg Taylor. And the manager reiterated his hope that Taylor will remain at Celtic beyond this season when his contact is due to expire.

“I’ve said it a number of times that he’s so important for our squad because when you want to build a squad, it’s never just about the starters, it’s about the whole squad and you want a depth to that,” he said.

“So I’m hoping that between the club and his representatives that we can organise a deal, but I also understand, he’s 27 now and this will be one of the last big contracts of his career so he has to make sure that everything is right.

“But what I do know is that I really want him to be here. I love working with him, I really enjoy that aspect of seeing him every say because he’s up for every single training session and for me he’s really important for us.”

Watch the manager’s full press conference

MORE ON THE MATCH

Upcoming Fixtures

Dundee United Vs. Celtic - Sun, Dec 12th 2024, 12:00 Buy Tickets