Rodgers cannot afford to repeat this Celtic blunder with massive fixtures still to come

Thu 5 April 2018 13:36, UK

COMMENT

Brendan Rodgers hasn’t made many selection blunders in his time as Celtic boss, but he made a big one in the goalless draw v Dundee on Wednesday.

For some unknown reason, he decided to drop the Bhoys’ best defender – Kristoffer Ajer – to the bench, and replace him with Jack Hendry, who formed a partnership with Dedryck Boyata.

The partnership looked shaky all night, with Hendry in particular having problems against his old side, perhaps nerves got the better of him.

The decision to include Ajer instead of Hendry makes even less sense when you take into account the fact that the player can’t play against Rangers in next week’s Scottish Cup semi-final.

Surely it makes sense to play the partnership set to start that game – presumably Ajer and Boyata – together before that game?

The duo haven’t played as a partnership since February, and maybe they will play together against Hamilton on Sunday, it would be the sensible thing to do.

With some massive games on the horizon – two Old Firm derbies, games against Aberdeen and Hibernian – the Hoops need to keep picking their best available team if they are to make history and clinch a second successive domestic treble.