Brendan Rodgers has shared his thoughts on Jeffrey Schlupp’s performance against Raith Rovers this evening at Celtic Park.
The game marked a significant milestone for Schlupp, as it was his first start for the Hoops after making his debut off the bench in the midweek win against Dundee.
Jeffrey Schlupp, who only joined Celtic on Monday on loan for the remainder of the season following transfer deadline day, has been given opportunities in the last two games.
The 32-year-old, who boasts a decade of experience in the English Premier League, had seen his game time limited at Crystal Palace over the last six months, eventually leading to his move to the Hoops.
Despite his limited recent action, Schlupp’s experience and versatility were on display as he continued to integrate into Celtic’s setup against Raith Rovers.
Having played much of his career as an overlapping full-back and winger, the role of an inverted full-back, which Celtic often use, is a tough one for Schlupp to understand immediately.
Rodgers acknowledged the adaptation period Schlupp will need to undergo in order to fully grasp the small details of the position.
When asked ‘Were you pleased with Jeffrey Schlupp today?’
Rodgers said: (The Celtic Way), “Yeah. Again, it’s a complex system to play. Sometimes you ask him to be inside the full-back, sometimes on the outside.
“So for him, he’s only in the building, but you can see already, he’s starting to figure out what we’re asking him to do.
“His second half was much better, so he was more advanced, and he opens up the lines and then he can move. You see his physique, you see his quality, and once he feels the rhythm of the team even more, you will get more out of him.”
Schlupp didn’t do much wrong in his performance; it wasn’t a perfect display by any means, but his pedigree speaks for itself.
You don’t win the Premier League with Leicester in 2016 by being a bad footballer.
Despite nearing the twilight of his career, the Ghanaian still possesses a physicality and pace that stands out, qualities that many of the current Celtic squad don’t have yet.
It’s clear why the Hoops moved to sign him on loan, as his experience and physicality add depth and a different dimension to the squad.
