Brendan Rodgers confirms Maryan Shved’s imminent arrival after St Mirren win

Posted Thursday, January 24, 2019 by PA

Brendan Rodgers confirmed Celtic are set to sign Maryan Shved but appeared less than enthusiastic about the recruitment of the winger.

The Northern Irishman was asked about the 21-year-old Ukraine international who plays for Karpaty Lviv after the 4-0 Ladbrokes Premiership win over struggling St Mirren at Parkhead which took them one point clear of Kilmarnock at the top.

Oliver Burke scored his first Celtic goals – with a brace – while Scott Sinclair grabbed the second from the penalty spot and substitute Timothy Weah, on loan from Paris Saint Germain, added a late fourth.

“I can’t say I know a great deal about him but what I have seen he is a talent and something that will probably benefit the club in the future,” Rodgers said.

“We have got about a million wingers, we don’t need another one.

“The club have been in contact with his representatives and he is a player for the future.

“He is a talented young player. I haven’t seen a great deal of him to be honest, it is something that has come to the club through circumstance and he has been watched.

“I think that they will look to get the deal done on him and he will probably be out on loan.”

One surprise to the team selection was goalkeeper Scott Bain again being preferred to Scotland international Craig Gordon.

But Rodgers explained: “I’ve got two very good goalkeepers and I’m giving Scott a little run in the team because I know what Craig can do.

“Scott comes in and plays one or two games so I want to give him a little run and he also really helps the speed of our game because he gets it out quickly.

“I’ve got very good goalkeepers and whichever one I play will always contribute well.”

Rodgers was pleased with his side’s performance during the convincing league victory following their William Hill Scottish Cup win over Aidrie at the weekend.

“It was a very good win for us,” he added.

“I thought the first game was a good performance and the mark of good team is to go into next game and perform better.

“I enjoyed how we played, it is not easy against a team so compact and tight.

“Oliver (Burke) is a talent, we are giving him clarity in terms of what he has to do, his job, to create goals and score goals and he has done that.”

St Mirren boss Oran Kearney, who revealed defender Lee Hodson could be out for “weeks possibly months” with an ankle injury, was bullish despite dropping to the bottom of the table.

He said: “The last thing I want to be doing in January time is checking scores or worrying about agendas of other teams.

“I can’t control what Dundee, Hearts or Hibs or anyone else do.

“The only thing we can control is our players and us to get points.

“We are all in control of our own destiny.”