Adam Idah in danger of creating Celtic history he doesn't want as Brendan Rodgers defence doesn't stack up – Hugh Keevins

If Celtic somehow contrive to go out of the Scottish Cup to St Johnstone today it would be the seismic equivalent of Rangers being eliminated by Queen’s Park earlier in the competition.

The Championship side were from a different division to the team they beat at Ibrox. But St Johnstone might as well be in that position at Hampden, since they are an incredible 52 points behind Celtic in the Premiership.

They come from different worlds. And it was the failure to appreciate that gulf in class that drove Brendan Rodgers to distraction after his side’s league defeat in Perth two weeks ago.

The manager was actually offended by his players’ impoverished performance. And the Hoops boss might need to be physically restrained if there’s any repeat of that spectacular ineptitude at Hampden this afternoon.

Which brings us to the subject of Adam Idah. It’s disturbing when Rodgers is obliged, at his pre-match press conference, to discuss his £9million signing apparently having been filmed while worse for wear last week.

The manager’s observation that it was regrettable Idah had been taken advantage of in that way, particularly since it was on the night before a day off for the players, was an attempt to defuse the situation and diminish Idah’s accountability.

That doesn’t stack up for me. When it comes to those employed by Celtic or Rangers there are no private individuals.

All players are regarded as being public property. No invisibility. No anonymity. Discretion required at all times.

As the late Tommy Burns once said of the city of Glasgow as it relates to players’ relationships with supporters: “One half hate you and the other half think they own you.”

Tommy said that long before the social media age which means that no one is