Brendan Rodgers hears out Celtic transfer case as Queen's Park spark new Trusty question – 5 talking points

It was a narrow 1-0 win over the Championship side as Johnny Kenny proved the difference maker

Johnny Kenny took a first opportunity to further impress Brendan Rodgers as Celtic made a winning start to their pre-season schedule.

The Irish striker made top-team strides in the second-half of last term having returned from a loan spell at Shamrock Rovers and netted before the end of term at Aberdeen.

Rodgers is on the lookout for an established hitman with Kyogo Furuhashi yet to be replaced after leaving in January.

Daizen Maeda, Adam Idah and new signing Callum Osmand are in the mix, but Kenny took his opening chance to shine with a sharp finish which defeated Queen's Park.

The 22-year-old’s strike was enough to see off Sean Crighton’s Championship hosts on a drab night at Lesser Hampden.

Despite a multitude of recognised stalwarts missing, Celtic’s starting line-up included familiar faces with a near first-pick midfield trio as Arne Engels and Luke McCowan lined up alongside skipper Callum McGregor in the engine room.

A minute’s applause for Lisbon Lion John Clark was held just prior to kick-off and Kenny, who led the line at the outset, made his mark for Rodgers after 20 minutes with an instant finish into the top corner from kid Mitchel Frame’s cutback.

Celtic’s senior stars had a grip of the game during that opening period, but the lead was just the one at the interval as Queen’s, without managing to test Ross Doohan in the visitors’ goal, managed to limit the chances created by Rodgers’ men.

With their work for opening night, the experienced boys got the second-half off as Rodgers changed an entire outfield line-up at half-time and kids took over.

Stephen Welsh, who spent last term in Belgium with Mechelen, assumed the armband from McGregor to assume the mantle of guiding light.

Rodgers’ youngsters didn’t hang around. They kept their team’s control with Thomas Hatton having a brilliant strike tipped onto the bar by home keeper Calum Ferrie.

The Queen’s No.1 also made a great save from sub Samuel Isiguzo leaving Kenny’s counter as the scoreline difference.

Captain set the standard

Callum McGregor didn’t hide the fact he was hurt badly by the Scottish Cup Final loss to Aberdeen just a few hundred yards away at the National Stadium.

Just as clear is his desire to roar back even stronger and, with no international football commitments anymore due to Scotland retirement, the skipper has been there from day of pre-season to lead the charge into the new campaign. McGregor is the heartbeat of Celtic and, just turned 32, the vibrancy is still there.

The eager way he chased around in this first pre-season game with the wind blowing and the rain pelting and demanding the ball shows that no occasion is too small for the biggest influence on the unit. If Celtic are to have another big season, McGregor is almost certain to have delivered once again on a week-to-week basis for Rodgers.

Midfield up and running

Arne Engels and Luke McCowan arrived at basically the same time last summer and the pair enjoyed fruitful first campaigns with the champions. Nonetheless, Rodgers will be looking for the duo to kick-on again this term and build on their initial progress.

Both individuals are laden with talent for a killer pass and also an eye for a goal, which both displayed early in the contest. The Scots star having an effort blocked and the Belgian curling one just over the crossbar. Engels is full of classy touches, McCowan has impish skills, with both willing to do a shift.

The pair took dunts in the first-half. McCowan got a bang on the inside of a knee in a collision and Engels was clipped on the ankle, but no issues.

Rodgers may be looking to add in the middle of the park and there’s Reo Hatate and Paulo Bernardo also in the reckoning for spots in the key area alongside their captain.

But Engels and McCowan have done enough so far to suggest they can really kick on and it promises to be a massive season for the pair.

Does Auston have trust?

Auston Trusty was the one senior starter in the backline and much is expected from the American international this term.

Having arrived for a fee of £6 million, the stopper displayed top-class glimpses in Champions League encounters away against Atalanta and Dinamo Zagreb. However, there were sloppy performances there, too.

Notably against Dundee at Dens Park and Liam Scales took the shirt back. With a season of Celtic experience under his belt and turning 27 next month, the door is open for Trusty to step through and he has the tools to do it with height and pace key parts of his make up.

He’s also a goal threat at set-plays and had a goal bound header cleared away the line here. Hayato Inamura signed a four-year deal just prior to the game kicking off, but the USA star can make the position his own alongside compatriot Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Go Johnny go

Johnny Kenny returned from his loan spell at Shamrock Rovers in the middle of last season and caught the eye with some of his efforts.

The 22-year-old got off the top-team mark at Aberdeen and could have also an Old Firm winner on his CV had Daizen Maeda spotted him free with the last kick of the game at Ibrox 10 days prior to that. Kenny started as the central striker in this opening game and he looked sharp with good physique.

The Irish attacker’s finishing instinct was there as he gobbled the chance to strike the opener. Callum Osmand has signed and it’s clear that Rodgers wants to add another top-class striker with Kyogo Furuhashi not replaced in January.

Adam Idah is in the mix, too, but Kenny has the potential to offer an option. Regardless of the nature of the contest, he’ll be delighted to get off the mark and show his prowess quickly.

Youth gets a chance

Rodgers handed opportunities to plenty of kids with many of the recognised top-team not ready to return. There could be spaces for them in the top-team squad if they continue to develop.

The manager has shown a willingness to try them. Mitchel Frame has tasted it and started wide left, Dane Murray has been talked up by the boss and he was alongside Trusty at the start.

Jude Bonnar and Colby Donovan got starts and more youngsters made their way from the bench. Queen’s Park offered a good test.

Sean Crighton’s Championship side didn’t give them any hand-outs. Ross Doohan will have to wait with Kasper Schmiechel and Viljami Sinisalo ahead of him in the goalkeeping ranks, but he will have enjoyed his return to the Celtic goal before Josh Clarke took over in the second-half.

More such as Sean McArdle had their chance after the break and, although it is tough going breaking into the side when the competitive stuff starts, the grounding they are getting is invaluable.