Brendan Rodgers has declared himself an impartial observer as he prepares to take his seat at Wembley on Friday night.

The Celtic manager will be in attendance in London as Gordon Strachan’s side attempt to eek out a result from their FIFA World Cup qualifier against England, with a number of his charges, past and present, on display.

Much has been made of Scott Brown’s return to the national side but Rodgers, who has been particularly complimentary about his skipper this season, believes that there are interesting parallels between the midfielder and England captain Jordan Henderson.

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“They are from the same bottle, really. Both brilliant professionals,” said the Celtic manager.

“I made Jordan Henderson captain at Liverpool and some people looked at that at the time.

‘But Jordan has great leadership qualities. He is a super athlete who can pass the ball.

“He learned off a great captain in Steven Gerrard. I made Jordan the vice-captain of the team in Steven’s final year and then when Steven left he could step up. He has taken on the mantle there very, very well.

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“He is an outstanding player and there are a lot of other boys I know in there.

“I brought Adam Lallana to Liverpool. A great talent. Raheem [Sterling] is a big talent who is back to the form and level. Nathaniel Clyne is another at Liverpool.

“I know a lot of the players on both teams.”

Rodgers could have been looking on from a very different vantage point had things gone differently this summer.

The Northern Irishman barely had his feet under the desk at Celtic Park when news emerged that Rodgers was on the shortlist of the English FA following their limp showing at the European Championships in France this summer.

Sources inside the FA believes there was strong support for Rodgers who was regarded as the man who could inspire a current group of under-achieving players with England.

Rodgers himself brushed off the interest, insisting that his full focus was on Celtic and the post he had inherited from Ronny Deila.

Certainly, though, as both teams take to the field tomorrow night, Rodgers has insisted that he won’t find himself rooting one way or the other.

“For me, being a successful coach is defined by seeing players improve and maximise their potential.

‘I take great pride and I will do so when I am at the game, whoever is playing from the Scotland boys or with England,” said Rodgers.

“I have no preference who wins. I just like to see the players I have worked with – and played a little part with – play well. If they all play well then I’m happy.”

Few would expect Scotland to come out of the game with a scoreline that would re-energise a campaign that has never got off the ground.

It has been a meek return so far with the last double header heaping further pressure on Strachan.

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In many ways coming out of Wembley on the back of a respected performance might be the best that Scotland can hope for.

However, there is a glimmer of hope in the fact that Scotland tend to perform better going into games as heavy underdogs. England have a formidable squad of players performing at the top level, but they are perennial underachievers in international football.

Yet, while they don’t turn it on for the big occasions they are pretty consistent at making sure they are at the big parties; they have not lost a qualifying game at Wembley since 2009, ensuring that Scotland’s task remains daunting, regardless of any uncertainty in the England camp.

“It will be a difficult game. But I think it is an interesting one,” said Rodgers

“Scotland need to be at their best, of course. But they will always have a chance.

“I’m sure an England v Scotland game will be tense. There is a lot of pressure on England to do well, in particular, at Wembley.

“I remember seeing the last game between the nations at Parkhead. England were better then, they played well on the night.

“It will be a big game and I am looking forward to going to it.”