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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Aidan Macdonald

Phillips faces Champions League waiting game as Rodgers provides injury update

Celtic defender Nat Phillips faces an injury sweat ahead of the Champions League opener against Feyenoord.

The Liverpool loanee was substituted at half time during the recent 3-0 victory over Dundee.

And Parkhead boss Brendan Rodgers was quick to reassure fans after the Scottish Premiership fixture that it was nothing more than a precaution.

However, despite the 26-year-old training with the team before flying to Rotterdam, it appears the injury could be more serious than first thought.

He said: "Nat has rolled his ankle so we will just have to see on that. Other than that pretty much the guys are fine, they are working their way up to fitness.

"Apart from that they are OK.”

Phillips is on the books of the Scottish champions until January after joining on a six-month loan at the end of the summer transfer window.

Meanwhile, Feyenoord manager Arne Slot says there is no comparison between Celtic and Rangers.

Speaking to the media ahead of the fixture, Slot stated he has a unique respect for the Parkhead club, given they are the only other league winners in the group.

The 45-year-old also feels comparisons between the two Glasgow sides are not worthwhile given Celtic's domestic domination over the last 10 years and the fact the Ibrox club recently lost convincingly to PSV Eindhoven.

He said: "PSV won easily at home, away they didn't win. Celtic have only lost to them once in the last meetings.

"Celtic have been a better club in the last decade, I think you have to rate them differently than Rangers.

"If you want to get through you will have to win almost every home game.

"It's not like I will rate any of the three clubs differently. Celtic are the only champions and you have to have a lot of respect for that.

"There are a lot of players I admire. The striker (Kyogo Furuhashi) but also the left winger (Maeda) as well, they do a lot of threatening deep runs.

"But I also like the midfield and the style they play. It's my belief that the players all have individual skills but they can grow because of the team."

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