Granted, praise from Brendan Rodgers isn't exactly the most difficult to attain, but given that Rodgers has now worked with some of the greatest players in world football along with Iago Aspas, compliments should not be dismissed.
Rodgers has today lavished praise upon his young Irish centre-back Eoghan O'Connell ( insert obligatory 'cousin of Paul O'Connell' reference here), and will be unafraid to throw him into the deep-end against Astana in tomorrow's Champions League qualifier in Kazakhstan.
I’ve been particularly impressed by young Eoghan.
He’s a good size, wants to do well and he’s good in the air. He has been around the first team for a few years and had some loan experience.
We were up against tough opponent at the weekend and he coped very well. He has a real in-built brain for football, and he understands the game well.
I have never any fears of putting young players in.
O'Connell spent last season on loan at Cork City, before returning early to Celtic Park owing to injury, and the arrival of Rodgers should be good news for O'Connell, given his new manager's proclivity for trusting young players.
O'Connell started the recent friendly against Leicester City, gilding a solid defensive display with this remarkable goal:
If he continues his current trajectory, Eoghan O'Connell will be known upon his own terms.
[The 42]
