Hoops manager Brendan Rodgers believes that Celtic are starting to see the best of Olivier Ntcham.

The midfielder netted a cracking volley to open the scoring as Celtic beat Hamilton Accies last night and Rodgers has applauded the growing consistency of the 21-year-old Frenchman.

“I think he’s developing very, very well, as I would expect,” said Rodgers.

Read more: Celtic 3 Hamilton Accies 1; 69 not out as Celtic keep run going

“He’s a highly gifted player, the first goal is wonderful technique after great play by Callum and Scottie and it’s a brilliant finish.

“He’s got really good technique, good pace, good awareness and it’s just about him getting used to the number of games. Now he’s getting that consistency and adapting to everything since he’s moved to here and you see his quality tonight was very good. He’s developing very well.”

Celtic’s win over Accies last night was their fifth game in a fortnight, but there are another five to go before the winter break kicks in.

And Rodgers has insisted that the Hoops will not use fatigue as a reason for any lethargy that may be creeping into performances.

“Listen you have to expect something, but one of the chances came from us,” said the Celtic manager. “It was loose play by [Jozo] Simunovic being short on the passback and the boy should maybe do better.

“But listen, it’s not an excuse for us. We know we’re in a run of games and it’s a really tight schedule - but that’s been since June.

“Since our first pre-season game started we’ve been training, playing, training, playing right the way through to now. It’s not an excuse for us.

Read more: Celtic 3 Hamilton Accies 1; 69 not out as Celtic keep run going

“We have to be ready to work hard and press the game and when we have the ball look after it - and I thought in the main that the team did that really well.

“Of course Hamilton could put some risk into the game towards the end but we saw it through and got the result.”

Meanwhile, Rodgers fully expects Dedryck Boyata to be fit for the weekend.

The defender went off in the second period of the win but is expected to be fine for the weekend trip to Tynecastle.

“Boyata should be fine,” said Rodgers. “The medical tell me that it’s just a slight stretch of his groin but he should be ok.”

While Rodgers was satisfied to stretch Celtic’s unbeaten run to 69 games he was conscious to offer a note of thank to those who turned out last night.

It was not the most glamorous of fixtures on an icy night – reflected in the swathes of empty seats – but for those who braved the elements, Rodgers was grateful.

Read more: Celtic 3 Hamilton Accies 1; 69 not out as Celtic keep run going

“I have to talk about the supporters,” said the Celtic manager. “I think it was probably a hard watch, a hard decision to stay in when the kettle is on, the house probably roasting and there’s football on the telly.

“So, we thank the supporters who came here because it was absolutely freezing. It was great to get the win for them.

“We made some changes, tried something slightly different and I thought the players worked it well.

“It was a good win for us if you’ve watched Hamilton this season. Martin Canning said before the game this was their strongest squad in nine or ten years, and you can see that.

“They have gone to Ibrox and Easter Road and won. They have had some very food victories this season. So, we knew this was going to be a real test for us, especially on the back of a good performance but not such a good result against Hibs.

“We lost a soft goal from our perspective. It comes from a throw-in and we give away the ball cheaply. So not so pleased with that.

“But we reacted well and that’s what this team is good at. We have created a mentality that whatever happens in a game you don’t get down on it, you just go again. We had two quick-fire goals where we close down quickly and won back the ball.”