Rodgers Gets a Response from Celtic Squad, but Summer Overhaul Still on the Cards
Brendan Rodgers finally saw the reaction he was seeking from his Celtic side over the weekend following a string of underwhelming performances. After a disappointing loss to St Johnstone, the Celtic boss made no attempt to hide his frustration—not just at that result, but at the overall decline in standards since the start of the year.
The Parkhead crowd seemed to back Rodgers’ critical stance, and it came as no shock when major changes were made ahead of Saturday’s clash with Kilmarnock. His decisions paid immediate dividends, as Celtic ran riot with a 5-0 win—four of those goals coming in the first 30 minutes.
Despite the convincing victory, the message from Rodgers was clear: no one is safe as the club approaches a crucial summer rebuild.
Idah and Trusty Face Harsh Criticism
Two players under particular scrutiny are Adam Idah and Auston Trusty. Idah, who was expected to rejoin the club on a permanent deal after a successful loan spell from Norwich City—which included scoring the winner in the Scottish Cup final—has come under fire for his recent form.
Veteran pundit Hugh Keevins didn’t mince his words on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard, branding both Idah and Trusty as “a waste of money.” While Idah started the match against Kilmarnock but failed to score, Trusty missed out due to personal reasons, as his partner gave birth.
“Management is a lonely job,” Keevins said. “Brendan Rodgers is probably asking himself, ‘What’s going on with these players?’ He’ll know he needs to shake things up. Auston Trusty—waste of money. Adam Idah—waste of money.”
Kuhn and Jota Also Under the Spotlight
Rodgers also dropped Nicolas Kuhn to the bench against Kilmarnock, and although the German winger has enjoyed a decent season overall, his recent performances haven’t lived up to expectations.
Jota, who returned to Celtic in January after a stint abroad, is another name being questioned. Keevins accused the Portuguese winger of slipping into a comfort zone and urged him to rediscover the hunger that once made him a fan favourite.
“Nicolas Kuhn—what’s happened to him?” Keevins questioned. “He’s lost his spot. And Jota, the king of layovers, he needs to get his act together too. He’s gotten comfortable. Rodgers has plenty on his plate, and he’s likely looking at some of these players thinking, ‘not good enough’.”
A Crucial Summer Ahead
While the Kilmarnock performance provided a glimpse of what Celtic can still offer, it doesn’t erase the inconsistencies that have plagued the second half of the campaign. Rodgers appears determined to reshape the squad in the upcoming transfer window, and several players could find themselves surplus to requirements.
If Celtic are to reclaim their dominance and meet Rodgers’ expectations, this summer could be a transformative one at Parkhead.
