Paulo Bernardo leaves Celtic transfer door open but Brendan Rodgers' message the only thing on star's mind

Paulo Bernardo is starting to make a happy habit of this.

With three goals in his last four games, Celtic’s Portuguese loanee is now nailing down a place in Brendan Rodgers’ midfield after getting off to a bit of a false start in the summer following his move from Benfica. Bernardo was at it again as he chipped home a sublime opener to break Buckie Thistle’s spirited resistance and turn a David v Goliath fourth round Scottish Cup tie into an inevitable rout It did look for a long time earlier in the campaign as if Bernardo had walked into the wrong movie in Glasgow’s east end.

But a series of heart-to-heart conversations with boss Rodgers has helped him to settle into the side in time for the big push towards a potential domestic double in May. What happens beyond that remains unclear. He was asked after yesterday’s match if he sees his long term future with Scotland’s champions or if, at the very least, he has plans to extend his stay in this country beyond the summer.

But, for a young man who has suddenly found his voice on the pitch, he seems strangely tight-lipped where the next step of his career is concerned. He said: “I just think about the present, game by game, how I can improve.

“Then the other things will happen. I am enjoying it a lot. The fans are unbelievable and they like me, so I am feeling good too. I just have to keep going and doing things well.”

Asked if he has spoken to Rodgers about the possibility of thrashing out a permanent deal this summer he side-stepped it expertly. Bernardo said only: “No. He and me just want to keep things going well and to improve a lot.”

The big season re-start could hardly have gone any better for the manager and his players with yesterday’s five goal romp - even if they