Brendan Rodgers has welcomed the news that Scott Brown looks set to turn down the chance to play out the final chapter of his career in Australia. The Celtic captain is on the brink of agreeing a deal that will keep him with the Parkhead side and Rodgers believes that the 33-year-old will head straight into a coaching role with the club.

"I don't believe anything is finalised," said Rodgers.

"He is very happy here and we have given him the time.

"Scott is back to fitness and it would be brilliant for the club, his team-mates and me if he stays.

"He has been a brilliant captain and hopefully he will sign.

"Scott could be a coach here in the future. There will always be a role here, it just depends how far he wants to go into it.

"But to have that quality of person and his leadership, once his time is done as a player, the club will want to maximise that and nurture him as a coach." Meanwhile, Rodgers has insisted that he was delighted with the performance against St Johnstone as Celtic started to pull away at the top.

“I was delighted with the performance because we played very well in the game," said the Celtic manager. "In the first 25 minutes, we were too safe. We kept the ball, had possession but St Johnstone had a good shape and we were too safe in our passing. It was a bit slow.

“Then we started to play better in the last 15 minutes of the first half. "We changed the shape of the midfield and wingers at half-time. We covered the spaces better and that allowed us to find the gaps."