DA YA think I’m sexy? No, that’s not a question about the thrusting, gyrating merits of this scribbler caught amid the creative endeavour of writing a Celtic piece, more a query about Rod Stewart’s elaborate performance during the fifth round draw of the Scottish Cup the other day.
Given the excitable, extravagant state the bold Rod was in as he plucked a few baws oot of a poke, it was more a case of a nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse. Perhaps even a blind drunk cuddy at that. Every picture tells a story eh?
For Brendan Rodgers, the Celtic manager, Stewart’s cup cameo brought back the memories of a bit of spotlight time with the veteran Scottish rocker back when his Swansea team were celebrating promotion to the money-soaked top flight of the English scene.
“When we got promoted he was doing a show at the Liberty Stadium and we all got invited on to the stage,” recalled Rodgers, as he tried to hide the leopard skin leggings under his tracksuit.
As for one of Celtic’s young turks, Patrick Roberts, the Rod roadshow on this road to Hampden was something of a generation game.
“I have never met him but my mum has seen him a couple of times when she has been here,” said the 19-year-old.
It’s a new generation of Celtic players who are on the cusp of history this week, of course. If they avoid defeat to St Johnstone on league duty at Parkhead tonight, then the current Celtic crop will emulate the 26 match unbeaten domestic run Jock Stein’s greats of 50 years ago managed.
It would be quite a feat but one which Rodgers is remaining coy about. “If a consequence of winning the game is equalling a record that’s stood for such a long time, then great,” said the Northern Irishman.
“It would be a huge honour to be able to be even spoken about in the same breath as the legends who created that record. We are aware of the great history of this club. But we also have to concentrate on our jobs, training and preparing well for the matches.
“Winning games consistently can lead to these things but you can’t think too much about it.”
There are a few other things for Rodgers to ponder. Tom Rogic, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury, is slowly getting back to fitness while new signing Kouassi Eboue is being gently eased into action.
“He wasn’t one I was going to bring in and pitch straight in to the side,” said Rodgers of the Ivorian recruit.
“He was always going to take time to adapt to the country and fitness. I am not putting a timeline on it right now. We’ll see how he is. The team is doing really well but he will make it very competitive for places.”
And as for Rogic?
“He’s still a wee bit off,” added Rodgers. “He’s started running again but he’s probably another 10 days to a couple of weeks before he’s ready to join up again. The good thing is he has reacted well and is out on the field. He is going to be a huge plus for us in the last part of the season.”
Roberts, meanwhile, continues to enjoy life at Celtic. The teenage Manchester City loanee, who scored against his parent club in the Champions League group stages last year, is keen to keep his current employers marching on at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership.
“The manager is experienced at motivating players,” said Roberts. “He has said to us that we need to keep pushing and not get slack or we will lose games.
“He has kept us thinking that way throughout the season and especially after the trip to Dubai we have to keep going and keep our focus.
“Players just enjoy playing football and enjoy winning. When you are winning every week you get a real buzz out of it and you want to keep doing it.”
As one of the more inventive players in the Scottish scene, Roberts is an inevitable target for some of the more agricultural exponents of this rough and tumble pursuit. He’s used to that, of course.
“I have been kicked many times, even in England,” he said. “Everyone has their pride and they don’t want to be embarrassed if you get past them. I just get on with it.
“Any team, when they play Celtic, will look to kick us off the park. We have so much quality in the team and they look for other ways to stop us but that is normal. We have to look for ways to overcome it.”
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