BRENDAN Rodgers has indicated the Rangers game at Parkhead tomorrow could come too early for new signings Filip Benkovic and Youssouf Mulumbu to make their Celtic debuts.
Benkovic, the 21-year-old Croatian centre half who joined Premier League club Leicester City in a £13 million switch from Dinamo Zagreb in his homeland earlier this month, has joined on loan until the end of the 2018/19 campaign.
Meanwhile, Mulumbu, the 31-year-old Congolese midfielder who made such an impression during a stint with Kilmarnock last season, signed a two year contract after arriving on a free transfer.
Rodgers was pleased to strengthen his squad with both players before the transfer window closed last night, but suggested it may be unwise to pitch them in to the Ladbrokes Premiership game at Celtic Park tomorrow after just one training session.
“I’ll have a wee look at it,” he said. “Filip has been playing and training, but he’s literally just stepped out onto the training field with us.
“Youssouf has been training and looks great, but I have to be fair to the players and where they’re at, at this stage of their Celtic careers. Their main aim is for the whole season. They’re both players who will really help the squad.
“Filip is 6ft 4in and is dominant, a number one centre half who can go and head it. He’s also strong in both boxes and that’s something we felt we needed to be better at. So he’ll come in and add to that.
“With Youssouf, we saw last year he’s a very good player. He has six years at West Brom and was very good. And he still looks as fit and fresh as ever.”
Rodgers was keen to add to his options after qualifying for the Europa League and being drawn to face Rosenborg of Norway, RB Leipzig of Germany and Red Bull Salzburg of Austria in Group B.
“It’s a tough draw with both Red Bull teams and also another trip back to play Rosenborg,” he said. “It’s funny, I spoke to their captain out on the pitch after we played them (Celtic beat the Trondheim club in the second qualifying round of the Champions League) and he said ‘congratulations, maybe see you next year.’ But it’ll be a couple of months later.”
Rodgers confirmed that Griffiths, who netted his 100th goal for Celtic in the 3-0 win over Suduva of Lithuania in the second leg of the Europa League play-off at Parkhead on Thursday evening despite being unwell, would be fit for the Rangers match.
“Leigh wasn’t well and had a wee vomiting fit at half-time in the game,” he said. “He didn’t train today but should be fine for Sunday.”
Mulumbu, the former West Brom and Norwich City player, is hopeful he can make as big an impression at Celtic as he did at Kilmarnock last season in the coming months.
“My immediate focus is to stay fit and ready and be 100 per cent ready,” he told the Celtic website. “I’ve played at Celtic Park as the opposition and it’s a special place to play, so I’m looking forward to being part of the team and playing there.
“I cannot describe how amazing this day is for me, but now I must work hard to play. I always work very hard and I want to help the young lads here.
“The first goal for me is to show to the manager that I’m ready. Any time he needs me I will respond on the pitch. I know the game and what is expected of me so I’m going to be ready.
“This is what you work for as a footballer. To play in a big team like Celtic is just amazing. We have so much to achieve. We need to do well in the Europa League, retain all the domestic trophies and continue winning the Glasgow derbies. It’s amazing to be part of that.”
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