AFTER their very public spats about the length of the grass on the Tynecastle pitch, Scott Brown’s combative style and Celtic’s reliance on loan players in the past year or so, the public perception is there is little love lost between Craig Levein and Brendan Rodgers.

The reality, though, is quite different. Celtic manager Rodgers was quick to contact his Hearts counterpart in August after Levein was taken in to hospital following a health scare.

And he was certainly unstinting in his praise of the job his opposite number – whose team sit six points clear of his side, who have a game in hand, at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership – has done at the capital club as he looked ahead to their Betfred Cup semi-final at Murrayfield this afternoon.

The slanging matches which have been conducted in the media before and after meetings between the Edinburgh and Glasgow rivals disguise the healthy mutual respect that exists between the two men.

Asked what his response had been when Levein took ill, Rodgers said: “I sent him a message straight away. You understand the pressures of the job when you’re a manager. I think it’s only when you are a manager, when you walk in their shoes, that you know everything that you’re under. But the most important thing is your health. He got back to me virtually straight away.

“The most important thing at that time was Craig’s health. He’s gone away and made himself better and looks great. Sometimes when things like that happen in your life it allows you to have a bit of perspective. He’s probably taken a step back and I’m sure is enjoying it a little bit differently. He’s done a fantastic job, they’ve had a great start and they’ll be a tough opponent.

“I have a huge respect for Craig. I’d never come across him till I was up here. You have your little bits and pieces about lawn mowers and the size of the grass. But aside from that I have huge respect. He’s trying to do something there and build it the right way and use his experience to go and manage. He’s been a manager for a long period of time. He’s done a terrific job.

“We all understand there’s a wee bit of gamesmanship and edge along the way. They make the pitch however they want. He wants every advantage they can get and they have the right to do that. It’s football. You look for every advantage you can get.

“You can’t say it when you lose, but you can say it when you win. That might seem a bit strange. But ultimately what you base everything on is respect. He’s done a terrific job. He’s added some really good players.”

Rodgers feels that persuading Steven Naismith - who his centre-backs Filip Benkovic and Jack Hendry will do well to shackle this afternoon - to return to Scotland from Norwich City on loan was an inspired piece of business by Levein.

Naismith netted against his Liverpool side in the Merseyside derby – the first that both men had been involved in – at Goodison Park in 2012 shortly after he had joined Everton and Rodgers had moved to Anfield.

“I think the catalyst for it all is Steven Naismith,” he said. “I know all about his professionalism having seen him down south. I was surprised when he left Everton because I thought he was one of their key players.

“He was always a player I was impressed with wherever he played on the field. He had a good football brain, was technically good and had a good eye for goal. He works very hard. When I see him play it is clear he looks after himself. He was a really good signing from Craig to bring him in.

“I’ve got no doubts, without knowing him, of his influence because of the level he’s played at. I’m sure, along with the other players, he’s definitely made them very strong.”

Rodgers is content that Celtic are, despite their disappointing 2-0 defeat to Europa League rivals RB Leipzig in the Europa League in Germany on Thursday night, performing far better than they were when they lost 1-0 to Hearts at Tynecastle in August.

But he accepts his defence will have to perform far better than they have if they are to nullify the threat posed by Naismith, Steven MacLean and their team-mates and progress to the final of a tournament they have won in the past two seasons.

“The goals we conceded against Leipzig were frustrating,” he said. “We had a good foothold in the game, we were doing well and out of nothing we conceded. It's partly us and partly the quality of the opposition, but we can avoid those mistakes. In the main, though, with lots of changes and disruption, we’ve defended well domestically.”

Rodgers will be without Kris Ajer, Dedryck Boyata and Jozo Simunovic today, but he is confident Benkovic, who looks set to be fit, and Hendry, who has endured a turbulent season, can gel.

“Every coach would tell you they want stability in that area of the field, but sometimes playing so many games and having young players, changes are sometimes inevitable,” he said. “Craig will tell you it's never perfect - he's lost [John] Souttar and [Christophe] Berra. You can’t get too hung up about it.

“Filip has looked strong as each game has gone on. For Jack, it's about confidence, but it's also about learning as well. You need to do the basics well. Top-level defenders have good positioning, agility, and can handle the ball. I think that’s something that will come with time for him.”