Brendan Rodgers lays down Celtic gauntlet to Nawrocki and Lagerbielke as pair told exactly why they're not playing

Brendan Rodgers says it's no mystery why Maik Nawrocki and Gustaf Lagerbielke aren't getting minutes on the pitch - it's because their positional rivals are training better.

The two centre-backs cost Celtic over £7m combined in the summer but have both been pushed down the pecking order by the surprise re-emergence of Liam Scales, who has nailed down a starting spot beside Cameron Carter-Vickers. Lagerbielke started well but hasn't been in a Premiership squad since September while Nawrocki started the first two league games but hasn't featured since.

Liverpool loanee Nat Phillips has also moved ahead of the pair in Rodgers' thinking and their lack of involvement has led to questions over whether the frozen-out duo are fit, with neither even on the bench against St Johnstone at the weekend. But there are no injuries to report - they just aren't fancied over the other centre-back options Rodgers has available.

When asked about Nawrocki and Lagerbielke, Rodgers said: "The young players that are coming in, there's clearly players ahead of them. What always takes my attention is training. I'm out there every day watching them, and when I see players train and work with the right personality then they'll always edge their way closer to my thinking.

"It's clear our squad is quite big so there's been players ahead of them. Unfortunately for the likes of Maik and Gustaf, Scales came into the team and really took his opportunity. We've got Nat Phillips who has been a great positive influence since he's been here.

"It's the one area of the team that you don't necessarily want to change too much, especially when both players are fit. It's all about the two players who are playing. For any player, it's all about what they do in