Brendan Rodgers says Liel Abada is like his SON as Celtic boss takes family man perspective on winger's struggles

There is no chapter in the football coaching manual on how to deal with a player who in a foreign country struggling to deal with horrific conflict in his homeland.

But this is a situation that calls for the human touch rather than advice from a text book. Brendan Rodgers is in uncharted territory with Liel Abada – but the Celtic boss sees the young Israeli star as more than just an asset worth his weight in gold in goals and assists.

He looks at the 22-year-old more like a son. And that’s why helping Abada plot a path through this incredibly difficult period is not just about getting his back to business on the pitch. Rodgers doesn’t know when the winger will be back. He can’t say if he’ll ever be back playing for Celtic. But the manager won’t ever stop trying to help. Rodgers said: “The overriding thing is that I care for people. I can care FOR them because I care ABOUT them. That’s from my upbringing. Whatever you connect it to, I genuinely care for people. In a situation like this you can’t just brush it below the carpet.

“I look at him at 22 years old. I’ve got sons older than him. So I see him as a son, not just an employee of the club or a player in the team. If I had a son in that situation what would I want someone to do for him in a foreign country and when he has challenges? But it’s not just me. He has great support from everyone here. It’s just a shame it’s got to this stage but let’s see if we can turn it around.”

Abada is finding it tough to cope with what is going on back in Israel and Gaza and Rodgers won’t listen to the armchair expects who have been critical of the kid for not brushing off the troubles back home and doing the job he’s paid to do.

Abada gets warm support from the Celtic fans, but the