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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Graeme McGarry

Rodgers puzzled by Celtic penalty call as he addresses lack of attacking options

Brendan Rodgers has reiterated his desire to bring in attacking reinforcements over the coming weeks, with Kyogo Furuhashi currently Celtic's only recognised senior striker.

There was a moment of anxiety late on around Celtic Park during their flag day thumping of Kilmarnock when Kyogo went down under the challenge of Killie goalkeeper Robby McCrorie.

Rodgers though - who still hopes to bring Adam Idah back to the club on a permanent basis - was more concerned that a spot kick wasn’t awarded by referee Don Robertson rather than worrying about an injury to his forward.

“I thought it should have been a penalty,” he said.

“I think if you watch it again, he's onside. It's a clever movement. Gavin [Strachan] has gone through that with the guys the last couple of days in terms of looking at inventive ways to be creative.

“So, he's absolutely perfect, he plays onside. He plays it perfectly, makes his run, times it well. He has a touch past the keeper and the keeper clatters him.

“You can't say he's not going to get it because the Kilmarnock guy was behind him. He actually got to the ball. So you can never say he wasn't going to get it. So, it should have been a penalty. I didn't think he was overly hurt, I just thought it was a penalty.

“Hopefully, we can do something [in the transfer market]. That's the aim over the coming weeks.”

Rodgers was delighted that his side continued in the fine vein of goalscoring form they have been showing throughout the summer against Killie, and says it is a result of his team getting used to what he wants from them.

"I think I've seen the team develop over the period of time I've been here," he said.

"Just the clarity around how we want to work. And, of course, being able to spend a lot of time in pre-season together and perform how we did, clearly gives the team confidence. I think a big part of it probably also was how last season ended.

"I came in here and not a lot of the players had worked with us before. We were a bit up and down and inconsistent. But then as the season wore on and then when it came to it and when it mattered, we got the job done. And then that obviously gives players a bit of confidence.

"We just continued the last three months of the season into the pre-season and into today. You hope that you can keep the level. But I thought we were excellent today."

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