“But it’s not just that – it’s what he gives in the pressing. This is what I like to think my teams are built on, that high intensity pressure from the front and he is absolutely perfect for that.

“But the thing that doesn’t get mentioned so much – everyone talks about his pressing and his goals – but his movement is frightening. His movement in the game is as good as you’ll see.

“He’s just an absolutely phenomenal player and he will get some more goals by the end of the season, I’m pretty sure.

“His anticipation and his reading of the game is so good. You see it in his pressing, and you also see it in how he reads the game to get into the positions.

“He’s playing at a really, really high level and it’s just a joy to see him play because he has so much joy.

“And he’s one of the few players in the world that you see running and smiling. There are very few people who smile when they’re running, especially when they’re doing defensive running.

“I think you can see he has a big appreciation of the support he gets from the fans – they absolutely idolise him and love him, and he’s got his new song which is great, so I think he feels that.

“He senses that and he knows he has the support here. This is the environment that we have, it’s a really supportive culture here, and I think he’s in a really good place in his game and in his life, and he’s shown that consistently.”

Next up for Celtic is a trip to McDiarmid Park this Sunday to take on St Johnstone. And while it is a clash between top and bottom of the league, as well as being a rehearsal for the Scottish Cup semi-final later in the month, Brendan Rodgers knows his side will have to be fully focused on the 90 minutes in Perth and the need to take all three points.

“Since the new manager has gone in, he’s tried to work an idea,” he said, “and I can still see moments of that and what he’s trying to do – trying to make them more football-based and looking to compete alongside that, but it has been a challenge, of course.

“The pitch will be a challenge for us – but whatever conditions it is, whatever the team is that we’re playing, we know that we have to play our game and then look to bring home the points.

“But St Johnstone will be a tough team to break down and we really have to be on our game, and that’s what we’re preparing for this week.”

The manager’s full and exclusive Celtic TV interview

Kasper Schmeichel injury update
Strength of the squad
Hearts performance
Looking ahead to St Johnstone game
Daizen Maeda’s contribution
Always striving for squad improvement

You can watch the full interview with Brendan Rodgers now by subscribing to Celtic TV

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Celtic TV Exclusive: Manager gives Kasper Schmeichel update