For those unfortunates among us who ply our trade in the real world, £2k a week would still tick a few boxes.

Next to the funds on offer in the English Premiership, though, it is little more than loose change.

Yet, when Brendan Rodgers was overseeing the progression of Raheem Sterling from fledging starlet to England internationalist, the then Liverpool manager was keen to ensure that the player’s focus was not distracted by the side issues that come with loaded pockets and inexperience by keeping his salary on an even keel.

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Glasgow Times: Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, left, with Anthony Ralston in training at Lennoxtown.

Sterling has moved on considerably since then, but for Rodgers there is an urge to keep young players on track by ensuring they remain hungry to get to the next level and fulfil their own potential.

“There is one common denominator when it comes to young players falling by the wayside – money,” said Rodgers.

“It distorts reality. It changes people.

“I’m always cautious of that. I had Raheem Sterling playing for England and a regular in the Liverpool first team on £2000 per week.

“I couldn’t do it any longer than about the November time because he was absolutely brilliant, so we had to get him on a different contract.

“But I stretched it out as long as I could.”

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Anthony Ralston is the latest player to emerge through the club’s youth academy with the teenager’s profile enhanced considerably by his starting berth against Paris-Saint Germain last week.

It was not the most comfortable of evenings for the right-back but on the evidence of recent performances over the last few months, Ralston looks capable of following Kieran Tierney’s lead and pushing for regular first-team involvement.

However, with the spotlight shining upon the 18-year-old, Rodgers is wary of over-hyping the Scotland under-21 internationalist.

“Let’s let him be and not get carried away just yet,” said the Celtic manager. “He’s only just started playing games. You have to be careful with young players.

“Tony has done very well. He still has some improvements to make but there’s a really good base for him to be a part of the team.”

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And Rodgers is equally wary of youngsters believing they have made the grade long before they have established themselves at first-team level.

The Celtic manager revealed that his advice to those at Lennoxtown who wish to aim for first-team football is to describe themselves as training with the club – rather than Celtic players.

There have been too many names to mention throughout the years of players who rose to prominence quickly but whose career nose-dived and Rodgers is adamant that the focus on hard work and retaining a sense of humility is the path to carve out a successful career.

“I say to the young players here, it’s very easy to walk around with the Louis Vuitton soap bag,” said Rodgers candidly. “When you walk out of here, don’t tell people you play for Celtic. No, you are training with Celtic.

“You are playing for Celtic when you are in the first team.

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“Lots of young players these days look good, they smell nice, but they don’t put the work in. They don’t play.

“It’s about working to play for the first team.

“Thankfully with Tony and the likes, he’s not that type.

“With young players, one, they have to earn it and, two, you don’t go overboard with them because they have played a couple of good games.

“Stay calm. See how consistent and professional they are, and if they are doing well they will always get rewarded.

“Let them get some games in their legs and let them go from there.”

Ultimately, too, at a club of the magnitude of Celtic, there is a requisite level of maturity required off the pitch.

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Given the goldfish bowl nature of the city and the incessant glare, intensified by social media, there is a need for any first-team player to present a professional front.

And Rodgers believes that knowing how to conduct themselves off the park is as important as the manner in which they develop on it, with the right attitude and approach required.

“They need to behave themselves and stay professional,” he said. “I like young players but I don’t like them to act young.

“You need to have a maturity, especially at a big club like this one, with the focus on you.

“The young players I’ve brought in have all been great. I don’t have any qualms about how they live their life.

“They all know the demands to be here. You stay humble when you win and look to improve every day.

“With that, your life will get better and better.

“But never go away from what it’s all about, hard work and doing your very best.”