THE phrase “Celtic family” took on an entirely new meaning last night as the Parkhead club took on BW Linz in a pre-season friendly in Austria.

Brendan Rodgers, the Scottish champions’ manager, has taken Anton Rodgers, his son, away on the Glasgow club’s pre-season break to allow him to build up his fitness.

But Rodgers gave the 24-year-old, who has had spells with Brighton, Oldham Athletic and Swindon Town, a run-out in the second half of the game in rural Rohrbach as a trialist.

Read more: Craig Gordon confident Celtic are in better shape now than they were 12 months ago after Brendan Rodgers arrived​Glasgow Times: Anton Rodgers, the son of manager Brendan, in action for Celtic against BW Linz last night.

The former Republic of Ireland youth internationalist, who bears an uncanny resemblance to his old man, played in central midfielder alongside Nir Bitton as Celtic ran out 1-0 winners.

Rodgers Jnr is looking for a new club after being released by English League One club Swindon last season, but will, despite showing a good work rate and playing some nice passes, not be getting signed permanently.

Jonny Hayes, who completed a £1.3 million move from Aberdeen to Celtic earlier this month, made his debut after being named in the starting line-up for the game against the second tier Austrian club.

The winger looked bright and won his new club a free-kick in the 36th minute after making a powerful run upfield and being barged off the ball by Linz defender Gabriel Lukas.

Young left back Calvin Miller and centre half Jamie McCart both got the opportunity to show what they are capable of in the first half and there could be no faulting their effort.

Read more: Craig Gordon confident Celtic are in better shape now than they were 12 months ago after Brendan Rodgers arrived​

In the second half, after Rodgers had made 11 changes, goalkeeper Conor Hazard, right back Tony Ralston and striker Jack Aitchison were both brought on.

Callum McGregor struck the crossbar after Gary Mackay-Steven had cut the ball back to him in the 18th minute and Leigh Griffiths forced a save from Hidajet Hankic.

Dorus de Vries, handed a rare start as Craig Gordon sat the game out, did well to deny a Florian Templ header shortly before half-time.

James Forrest secured victory in the 83rd minute after Kieran Tierney cut inside from the left wing and supplied him with the ball. The winger volleyed beyond Hankic from the edge of the penalty box.

But the final outcome was unimportant and Rodgers was pleased that so many first team regulars got game time - and that his son also had the chance to get involved.

Stuart Armstrong, Scott Brown, Griffiths, Mikael Lustig and McGregor all played in the first 45 minutes while Dedryck Boyata, Nir Bitton, Forrest, Jozo Simunovic, Scott Sinclair and Tierney all featured in the second.