Such was the prevalence of Hoops players within Gordon Strachan’s Scotland squad this week that they might well have been playing at Celtic Park.

The spine of the national side was constructed of Brendan Rodgers’ players, with a strong argument to suggest that the mentality fostered at the Parkhead club has been taken into the Hampden dressing room.

Scotland have taken 10 points from 12 in their last four games and are just two matches away from landing a play-off spot that could secure what has always been regarded as an implausible ticket to the World Cup final sin Russia next year.

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In some ways Rodgers watches these games from behind the cracks of his fingers as he wishes for all to return injury free but the Hoops boss has admitted that he has drawn satisfaction from watching his players achieve at international level.

“I take pride in watching them and watching the team. I look at Scotland now and I see what I consider to be a proper international team,” said Rodgers. “They’ve got technique, speed, mobility and good tactical ideas. There’s a real enthusiasm and energy in the side.

“In the Lithuania game they were aggressive and pressed high into the game straight away. There was a good fluidity, good movement and pace in the team. They got a great result.

“And then to come back a few days later and play on the Monday was impressive. They are not easy games when there’s such a big block at the back. They are never easy.

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“I thought how they played, the patience they showed and the energy they put into it was exceptional.

“I just take pride in watching the players as I did with Mikael Lustig who’d a great cross for a goal and the other international boys. It was a really difficult start to the campaign for them but they’ve put themselves in a brilliant position.

“So now they’ve got to play Slokavia in the next game. That’s a great chance at home with the crowd behind you.

“If the crowd allow them to play and remain calm they’ll have a great chance in that game. Then it would all be down to Slovenia. With the types of players they now have in the squad they’ll have a chance of winning that as well.

“It would be great for Scotland.”

Meanwhile, Rodgers is insistent that while Celtic did all they could to bring in another central defender ahead of the transfer window that he is comfortable in heading into the Champions League campaign with what he has got.

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There is always the suggestion that a player can be added who is a free agent, but for the minute the Hoops boss is preparing to raise the curtain on the group stages against PSG on Tuesday evening with what he has.

“It was clear we wanted a centre-half and he [Rivaldo Coetzee] was a player who was young but had good experience and who came highly recommended to us,” said Rodgers. “So we were disappointed at the time for the youngster but unfortunately it wasn’t meant to happen. We tried one or two other thing late on once that fell through but I wasn’t just looking at a number. I didn’t want to just bring in a centre-half, it needed to be a certain profile, a certain type. I am not one for stockpiling players.”

It means that Jozo Simunovic will get a run out against Hamilton Accies this evening, a game he would ordinarily have sat out. The defender’s medical history with knee issues tends to mean that he does not feature whenever Celtic play on an artificial surface but having not played in almost a month and as the only fit defender, he will get some game time under his belt tonight.

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Still, though, if the headache of who to send out with the job of containing the celebrated forward line of PSG is giving Rodgers nightmares, he wasn’t for showing it.

“You can’t look at it that way,” said the Celtic manager. “It’s exciting. The players, the staff, the supporters, we are all looking forward to it. We have a job to do against Hamilton first. Once that’s done you are looking forward to hopefully one of the great nights at Celtic Park in terms of atmosphere and occasion.

“PSG will be coming to Celtic Park to put a show on. It’s the first game in the Champions League and it’s been selected for television. It’s going to be a wonderful occasion.

“Individually they are exceptional, but you are always trying to find a way to get a result.

“There’s no doubt they have brought in one of the elite players in the world in Neymar,” continued Rodgers. “He’s an incredible talent.

“The young boy Mbappe looks a real player. You add Cavani to that, who I’ve thought in the right team is top class, there’s the likes of Verratti, Draxler, Di Maria. At the back they are quick and strong, with the experience of the likes of Thiago Motta.

“It’s a challenge - but that’s why we wanted to qualify.”