Brendan Rodgers has backed Scott Sinclair to rediscover the form that he showed in his inaugural season at Celtic.

The winger was the top scorer for the club last term but he struggled to maintain the consistency and devastating form of his opening campaign with Rodgers’ side.

However, the Celtic manager has insisted that Sinclair remains an integral part of the way he wants the Parkhead side to play.

“He has suffered a wee bit because we have slightly changed the system, the dynamic of how we play,” said Rodgers. “But he is still very important.

“Teams set up differently against us so we have to try and find different ways - but he is still very important for us. Scott hasn’t played as much as in the first year, suffered a wee bit last year but was still one of the top goalscorers.

“This year he has come back, worked hard in pre-season, showed up well in games and will be there if we need them.

“I think he is at a really good level now. Some of the form of some of the other boys and the system we play mean he hasn’t played as much.

“That’s not necessarily down to him. It’s down to me and the coaches and the shape we put the team in.

“But he still has a really prominent part to play for us.”

Meanwhile, midfielder Nir Bitton is expected to be fit to play at some point next month after being out since the turn of the year.

“It will probably be after the next international break before he’s back,” said Rodgers.

“He had a minor setback that puts him back a couple of weeks but he’s working tirelessly to get back.

“He’ll be great for us when he’s back but he’s still a little bit of time away.

“Normally they say that if you’re out for six months it’s a similar period until you are back to where you left off.

“It will be nice to get him on the pitch. Whether or not he plays he’s a great influence on the group. He’s highly respected and we want him back asap.”