Brendan Rodgers has likened Celtic hot shot Patrick Roberts to Manchester City superstar David Silva.

Roberts has been one of many in the Hoops squad who has impressed their new manager during his first two weeks in charge, notably during the last four days at their Slovenian training camp.

The on-loan City forward is a player Rodgers knows from his Fulham days when the 19-year-old teamed up with new Bhoy Moussa Dembele at Fulham.

And he has heaped praise on the young talent who featured against NK Celje last night.

He said: "They both played in the youth cup the year Fulham got to the final [2014].

"Both those players were the catalyst for that team.

"They are both talented players in their own right. Moussa is a more physical player while Patrick is still developing and would be your David Silva-type.

“His profile is different but they will have that connection having played together in the youth teams.

“Hopefully, that can be re-introduced at Celtic.”

In last night's run out at the Arena Petrol around 60km from their Maribor base, Rodgers fielded two teams against their Slovenian hosts.

The Celtic manager revealed the reason behind it, insisting he is cautious of over-exerting his new squad at such an early stage of their pre-season preparations.

“I played two teams," he told Celtic TV. “It was two 45 minutes because we are still working towards 90 minutes with the players.

“We are only a week or so in, so we have to pay attention to the physicality of the players.

“The players will also get their fitness from the game, although we do a lot of work outside of that but that football fitness will have been enhanced even more by this game.”

Meanwhile, the new Celtic manager revealed he is keen to bring in defensive cover this transfer window.

With Efe Ambrose possibly going to the Olympics, Jozo Simunovic and Dedryck Boyata injured and Charlie Mulgrew yet to sign a new deal, the Hoops are currently light going into their Champions League qualifiers.

Rodgers said: “We are looking at the centre-half position.

“We have some players here I am looking at and I feel we can help to develop and to progress.

“Kristoffer [Ajer] has come in from Norway and looks an outstanding prospect.

“I don’t want to bring in a whole raft of players. I tend to look at quality and looking to introduce them.”