Brendan Rodgers is at a loss to explain the reasons why two of his players were the recipient of “horrendous” tackles in consecutive weeks – but he has appealed for greater levels of protection for them.

The Celtic manager felt that Kieran Tierney was the recipient of a career-threatening challenge on Saturday afternoon as the Parkhead side beat Motherwell, while Scott Sinclair took a scissor-kick the weekend before against Dundee United.

Rodgers particularly irked about the tackle from Motherwell’s Ryan Bowman.

Read more: Storm Doris didn't upset Celtic plans, insists Brendan Rodgers

The Motherwell players was sanctioned with a yellow card for the challenge that left the Scotland internationalist nursing three visible stud wounds on his knee. In the immediate aftermath of the game, Rodgers gave the Fir Park player the benefit of the doubt as he attributed the rashness of the challenge in part to the Celtic turf.

Having re-watched the incident, though, Rodgers was of a different mindset, citing the example of Hoops coach John Kennedy as what can happen when challenges are allowed to get out of hand.

“I have to say it took me until afterwards to see it,” said Rodgers. “At the time I was watching the game and gave the kid the benefit of the doubt, thinking about maybe the pitch.

“But when I seen it again it was naughty. Kieran is fine, he’s trained but has a few marks on him, but that is my overall concern.

“The last thing I want to be sitting here talking about is a serious injury to Kieran Tierney. If his foot was planted last week, with a straight leg coming in on a 19-year-old, I’m frightening to think what could have happened to him.”

Rodgers’ remarks about the tackle were given without prompting, a mark of just how irked he was by the challenge and the potential damage that could have been done.

Read more: Storm Doris didn't upset Celtic plans, insists Brendan Rodgers

The Hoops boss has maintained that he is content with a high-intensity and aggressive game but has urged referees to ensure the safety of the players who are on the pitch.

“My only worry at this moment in time is the protection I want for my players,” said Rodgers. “I didn’t see the tackle on Kieran Tierney until after the game but when I did see it, it was a horrendous challenge. And we had one the week before on Scott Sinclair that was a horrendous challenge. I have a team of men.

“They are young players but I ask them to be men in the game and I think we have shown over the course of the season we can handle a tough, aggressive, tight game of football, we can take that. But I need the officials to control if something is a bad tackle, they have got to see it.

“I have a brilliant young coach on my books called John Kennedy who lost his career on the back of an absolutely disgraceful challenge and I don’t want that. That could have happened to Kieran if his foot was planted – easily.

“It is the responsibility of officials to protect players – that is their duty on the field. Not just the referee – all four of them – and how that was never seen, you know. The same with Scott Sinclair the other week. They are awful challenges.

“We play an aggressive game and we have lots of games like that that are great – away at Aberdeen, tough games where you fight and tackle and are aggressive. But when it goes over the top we need the help of the referees otherwise you are going to lose talented players and you may lose careers because of it.”

Read more: Storm Doris didn't upset Celtic plans, insists Brendan Rodgers

Celtic are on a run of form at the minute which stretches to 20 consecutive league wins in succession, while the team remain unbeaten domestically.

The League Cup is already banked while the club’s first Treble since 2001 remains a tangible achievement.

Whether that has made Celtic a target is up for debate but Rodgers was unequivocal in appealing for greater protection.

“I don’t know what it is,” he said. “I know a player like Sinclair is quick and dynamic and that can affect timing.

“But a bad challenge is a bad challenge. I don’t care who it is.

“We respect for how opponents prepare for games. My duty is to make sure my team is prepared to fight and represent supporters.

“But there is also a duty from others to make sure the laws of the game and the welfare of players is looked after. I’m not saying to go soft. In Scotland and England we see two teams competing and fighting for the result.

“But we have seen some naughty challenges. I’m talking primarily about my players but if it’s happening elsewhere then it’s an issue.”

Read more: Storm Doris didn't upset Celtic plans, insists Brendan Rodgers

Rodgers himself lost out on a playing career due to injury, albeit a genetic one that ruled out a professional playing life. And he believes that the laws of the game have to be implemented without a dilution to the energy and commitment in games.

“I ask my players to respect referees,” said Rodgers. “We are not a team that goes charging after official, moaning and groaning.

“We say this is a man’s game. You expect to get hit with challengers, you take it, you get up and you fight.

“I’ve just seen a couple of things lately, whether it’s because we are on a run and are a target for teams, that means we need to be careful.”