ERIK SVIATCHENKO, the Celtic defender, has hailed the five-year signing of Kieran Tierney as "massive" for the club.
The 19-year-old was a sensation last season under Ronny Deila as he burst on to the scene at left-back and ousting first-team regular Emilio Izaguirre from the side.
His ability, potential and dedication was rewarded on Friday with a bumper contract that will not only offer better terms for the player but will offer some protection to the Ladbrokes Premiership champions in case suitors come calling for their prized asset.
Read more: Erik Sviatchenko welcomes Rodgers Way of doing it by the book
Sviatchenko has been playing alongside Tierney in the Celtic defence for the last few months and has been impressed by his progression and temperament in a first-team environment. It is clear Rodgers agrees, and Dane Sviatchenko believes the new deal will provide a bright beacon for those already coming through at Parkhead about the opportunities that will be there under the new regime.
“We all know the manager is keen in bringing young players up. For Celtic to sign Kieran Tierney for a five-year deal is massive," said the centre-half.
“It gives a good appreciation of how the work is going to be done in the future as well. It’s always good to hear. I know we have been performing well this pre-week and he was delighted with that.
“Everyone will work hard. Everyone has a new chance to show themselves. What is coming in or going out I won’t comment on that, I’m just happy to have started the season again.
The Celtic squad jetted out to Maribor yesterday for a two-week training camp where the ex-Anfield head coach will look to further implement his masterplan on this Celtic squad.
As well as guiding Liverpool to second in the Barclays Premier League two years ago, Rodgers has quickly added to his reputation among the group during a week's training at Lennoxtown.
“I think it might be [a different style to Deila]. All people are different, no two are the same," said Sviatchenko. “It’s a new manager with new ideas and so far the ideas for me have been what I want to be doing. It’s about history as well, and how the manager played at Swansea and Liverpool.
“I think it will be something similar to that so at this point it’s really, really interesting.
“I am excited about it. We need to dominate games even more than we did last year. To do that we need to be in a physical shape that is absolutely fantastic, that’s what this week has been about.
“We’ll get our fantastic form then we will build up slowly towards those next couple of weeks."
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