Brendan Rodgers Celtic presser in full as fixture frenzy earns 'intensity' demand straight from training ground

Brendan Rodgers knows Celtic are being tested with the number of fixtures they play, but says the 'intensity' of his squad is peaking.

The Irishman took his measured gripe with a dose of reality when he asked what the SPFL can do to aid Scottish Premiership teams in Europe with a tough fixture list ahead for the champions. Celtic get set to play game number two of three in less than a week, with St Mirren dispatched of on Wednesday and the longest away trip possible to Ross County on Saturday before doing battle again in the Champions League with Atletico Madrid in the Spanish capital on Tuesday.

It's something Rodgers insists puts his side at a 'disadvantage' when going toe-to-toe with Europe's elite, but admits the strategy of managing his squad game-by-game has to have an element of future planning. He reckons he's seen a level of intensity and professionalism markedly improve since his return in the summer, but wants players to be in tip-top shape for the glut of games ahead.

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He said: “It is one game at a time, of course, but you can’t deny that you have to plan forward as well.

“It’s a very important period of recuperation and recovery and all the sports science team here are outstanding. The players are well-drilled on the nutritional and recovery aspects of travel. The guys are prepared for that and the attitude in the squad is very good. They know they have to recover and be ready.

"It’s what you want to see and it’s a testament to their professionalism. I’ve always said that you can’t come in like David Turnbull the other night and play to that level and score if you’re not focused in training and