“Some players will come in here in pre-season and you shake their hand, and then you shake their hand again on the way out at the end of the season. They are super low maintenance, there is no drama, there is no problem. And there are other players who are higher maintenance.”

The Celtic boss did not name names or enunciate on the personalities of his charges but it would not be too tough to decipher which category Leigh Griffiths might fall into. 

Read more: Brendan Rodgers backs Leigh Griffiths but tells him to use his head to stay in Celtic team

In keeping with the mytho-logy of Scottish football, the striker has that little a bit of devilment in him that ensures his name lingers in the limelight for more than just his prowess in front of goal. 

And while Rodgers is insistent that the striker will always have a place at Celtic, there is also no doubt there has been a quiet word in the player’s ear about how he goes about his business. 

The simple matter is that if the striker is serious about hanging onto the striker’s jersey at the club, he has to play.

Whether that means being fit and looking after himself accordingly in order to minimise bumps and knocks or whether that is avoiding suspension, he needs to be front and centre when it comes to match day.

There is, of course, a valid and vocal argument in the player’s favour in regards to what was a nonsensical booking last Friday night, but tying a scarf to an opposition post in a volatile environment was never going to be well received. 

It has been lapped up by his own support who regarded it as fair game after the haul of bottles and coins that were aimed in the player’s direction.

Read more: Brendan Rodgers backs Leigh Griffiths but tells him to use his head to stay in Celtic team

But there is more than just a suspicion that his manager was not among those offering his applause.

Last season the player buckled down after a public rebuke from Rodgers regarding his lifestyle choices and, with a bit of previous in terms of the scarf-tying, it remains to be seen if he adopts a little more in the way of commonsense this term.

Asked if the player was no good sidelined, the Hoops boss said: “That’s it,” said Rodgers. “For tying a scarf round a post, that’s ultimately what it is. 

“Then players, the way players are, will be knocking on your door wondering why they are not playing. 

“You’re not available and the consequence could be you lose your place in the team and it’s not a team that you want to be out of too often, for any other reason than being injured.

“He’s got that devilment, which is great, but it has always got to be controlled.

“You have to be in control, you have to make yourself available, living your life right and doing all the things it takes to be a top footballer otherwise you get let behind.

Read more: Brendan Rodgers backs Leigh Griffiths but tells him to use his head to stay in Celtic team

“I was surprised by the booking. I think probably how the game ended, on the pitch afterwards, probably played a part in that. It’s a lesson learned for him, it could mean he misses a Champions League qualification game, which is a huge game for the club and it’s a huge game for him considering he wants to be available and to play all the time.

“He loves it and I love having him here,” said Rodgers. “I am always going to need at least two top strikers here. 

“Of course, Leigh wants to play so you have to be available and availability comes from looking after yourself. He is as good as finisher as you’ll see, how he hits the ball, how he works his positions. Someone who scores 40 goals in one season is a talent, there is no question about that. 

“For me last year he became a better player. He didn’t get the same goals for many reasons, but you see his link-up play and his confidence and we need that in the squad. 

“He is learning that it is not just about the talent. Yeah, but we can find a way. We have other players who can play in that position, not just strikers, we have a number of options. 

Read more: Brendan Rodgers backs Leigh Griffiths but tells him to use his head to stay in Celtic team

“Scott Sinclair can play there and there are others who can play there if we really had to work on that. But yeah, we’re still finding fitness at this stage of the season.”

The frustration for Griffiths will be that he loses out on game time, but more than that is that he runs the risk of losing his place to Moussa Dembele. 

Rodgers revealed Griffiths returned from pre-season in better shape than he was when he left after the William Hill Scottish Cup Final but it will count for little if he is suspended.

“He came back in great condition,” said the Celtic manager. “He came back in and he was below what the target that was set for him was. 

“When they went away for pre-season they couldn’t be any more than 2.5kgs over their weight, their peak weight, when they left. 

“He came back under that so he came back in even better condition. He will have issues with his calves because they are so wide, he has really big calves, but it is only a minor problem.”

Keeping his nose clean in the eyes of a manager who continually preaches a mantra of respect might be the bigger challenge.