BRENDAN RODGERS has warned he is ready to unleash his rested first-team stars on Aberdeen after his back-up Bhoys blew away Ross County.

The Hoops manager made eight changes to the side that won 4-0 in Dingwall last night from the one that beat Rangers on Sunday, including leaving Moussa Dembele and Scott Sinclair on the bench while also giving skipper Scott Brown the night off completely.

Those deputising more than stepped up to the mark but after seeing his side go seven points clear of the Dons with another three points, Rodgers revealed his big names will be fully refreshed and ready for the tasty tussle that awaits them on Saturday at Pittodrie.

Read more: Ross County 0 Celtic 4: New-look Hoops extend lead at top of the table to seven pointsGlasgow Times:

“Every single one of them is totally fit,” said Rodgers, who also left out Jozo Simunovic, Kieran Tierney, Nir Bitton, Tom Rogic and James Forrest. “I wanted to give one or two of them a rest.

“The game was getting stretched in that last half hour so we introduced a bit of speed into the game.

“We changed the shape of the team and went with three at the back which was good for us because we could then stretch it with Scotty [Sinclair] and his speed out wide and Patrick [Roberts] on the other side.

Read more: Ross County 0 Celtic 4: New-look Hoops extend lead at top of the table to seven points

“They’ll be fresh for the weekend and that was the plan. It couldn’t have gone any better. The game was played at a good tempo.

“We know Aberdeen will be a hard game – all the games have been that way. The scoreline looks good, but that’s a credit tot he player for their spirit, work and quality.”

An early goal from Patrick Roberts set the Parkhead club on their way to their eighth victory from nine Ladbrokes Premiership games before strikes from Stuart Armstrong and subs Sinclair and Dembele rounded things off in the last 10 minutes.

It was hard work at times for the defending champions as County squandered a host of chances with the game in the balance. However, Rodgers was delighted for those called upon to hit the high notes in the Highlands.

“The thinking going into the game here was that we had played a lot of matches,” he explained.

“We ask the players to play at a very intensive level in the attacking areas. We need that high up the pitch and the players who came in delivered that – Emilio has been out for along time and was outstanding.

“We kept a clean sheet and as good teams do we started the game quickly and finished strongly and produced a very good performance.”

Read more: Ross County 0 Celtic 4: New-look Hoops extend lead at top of the table to seven points

Rodgers also had some kind words for captain Brown, who was at home with his family after becoming a father for the third time on Tuesday.

“He is getting together his wee five-a-side football team,” joked the Celtic boss. “That is three boys he’s got now.

“He wanted to come. I said: ‘listen, look after your wife, family is more important than football’. It is nice for him to get a breather.

“He is going to go into the game super fit and fresh and strong and now a father of three. They are all feeling good. He breathes football Scotty so I am sure he will be looking forward to it.”