Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers singled out Paulo Bernardo for praise after his contribution to his side’s win over St Mirren, with the midfielder again impressing after a standout showing against Rangers at the weekend.
The Portuguese youngster has had to bide his time for a consistent run of games since joining the club on loan from Benfica in the summer, but he got two assists in the stroll at the SMiSA Stadium in his fourth consecutive start to continue his recent impressive form.
After bagging goals against Dundee and Rangers, Rodgers now wants to see the 21-year-old producing such performances on a regular basis.
“It is all patience,” Rodgers said.
“Sometimes at big clubs there is no patience with young players.
“You can see him growing and developing. When you have young players that is what tends to happen if their attitude is right, and their mentality is right.
“He has come in in these last few games and created goals and scored goals and he has put his foot in too. He is tenacious.
“Absolutely delighted for him. It is now about consistency.”
Rodgers also acknowledged that what has helped Bernardo to shine of late has been the contribution of the players beside him in the Celtic engine room, with both captain Callum McGregor and Matt O’Riley again outstanding against St Mirren.
“In all teams I’ve ever had it’s the combination of the three, it’s never just the one,” he said.
“The three are so important, and whether he is in there with Reo Hatate or Matt or Callum, it’s the combination of the three.
“But he’s a great learner, he’s a different type of player, maybe not as dynamic as Hatate, but he’s functional and he learns.
“He knows the runs, he knows the pressing triggers, and he’s developing and improving.”
Meanwhile, Rodgers has expressed his disappointment for striker Kyogo Furuhashi after he missed out on Japan’s squad for the Asian Cup, even though he is delighted to be able to call upon him when fixtures resume after the winter break.
“Obviously Daizen was originally in the squad and Reo got called up a bit later,” he said.
“But Kyogo has been in and out of the squad, so I was relaxed anyway. We had a look at all the numbers and what it might look like.
“But obviously, if he stays, it’s really good news for us. But, for him, I’m sure he would have wanted to play in it.”
