Rodgers 'hopeful' Of Recruiting Before Kairat Tie

Brendan Rodgers is "hopeful" he will beryllium capable to adhd to his Celtic squad earlier nan Champions League play-off necktie pinch Kairat Almaty.

The Scottish Premiership winners big nan Kazakh broadside successful Wednesday's first leg, pinch nan return limb six days later.

Last term, Celtic reached nan knockout shape play-off.

So acold this summer, Rodgers has signed 7 players, pinch 3 having featured truthful acold this campaign.

"Hopefully would beryllium nan reply to that," said Rodgers erstwhile asked astir imaginable captures.

"We person correct up until, I judge it's nan time earlier nan game, to alteration our squad truthful hopefully that tin beryllium nan case. We dream that we tin amended it and hopefully by past we will do."

Rodgers pointed retired that nan nine person tended to do much business towards nan extremity of transportation windows, pinch much than 2 weeks of nan summertime model still to run.

"I'm philosophical astir it," he said.

"What has gone unnoticed a small spot is that we've made a really bully commencement - 2 really bully wins [against St Mirren and Aberdeen], played well, I cognize we'll get better.

"I can't sound nan performances complete nan 2 games to get nan results. Sometimes that has been clouded a wee spot successful each nan negativity astir nan transfers. Hopefully, we tin travel retired of nan extremity of nan marketplace successful a bully place."

Celtic defeated different Kazakh side, Astana, complete 2 legs en way to nan Champions League group stages successful 2018, during Rodgers' first spell arsenic head successful Glasgow.

Commenting connected nan necktie pinch Kairat and nan 7,000-trip to Almaty successful south-eastern Kazakhstan, Rodgers said: "Everyone would've preferred nan person squad and not truthful overmuch travel but it is what it is.

"We've been location earlier and nan first limb we want to make a existent push to group a modular successful that crippled connected Wednesday and we spell location nan pursuing week and look to qualify. It's specified a immense game, large crippled and erstwhile it comes, we'll beryllium fresh for it."

Meanwhile, Rodgers is "fairly confident" past season's apical scorer Daizen Maeda will still beryllium successful his squad erstwhile nan transportation model closes.

The 27-year-old Japan forward, who is yet to people this season, has 2 years remaining connected his contract.

"There has been discussions and that going connected successful nan inheritance but I don't person immoderate updates connected it," Rodgers said, hinting astatine a imaginable caller deal.

"He's been present 4 years and progressed each twelvemonth he's been present and vanished disconnected a superb play for him. I deliberation what you'll ever get from Daizen is 100%."