Hayato Inamura's Celtic display sees Brendan Rodgers double down as Matt O'Riley melts hearts with Hoops answer
Japanese defender Inamura made his competitive Celtic bow in Saturday's 3-0 win over Livingston at Parkhead
Brendan Rodgers insists he had no issues pitching Hayato Inamura in for his Celtic debut - days after saying he wasn't ready for the Champions League.
Japanese rookie Inamura, 23, impressed at left-back as he landed a first start in Saturday's 3-0 win over Livingston at Parkhead.
The £250k summer signing from J1 league club Albirex Niigata was one of eight changes Rodgers made ahead of Tuesday's winner-takes-all Champions League blockbuster in Kazakhstan.
Inamura - who only made the step up from university to professional football last year - won't be involved after being left out of the club's European squad.
Quizzed on the decision last week, Rodgers said it was an easy call and that "he's not quite at the level, as of yet, that I would expect."
While he wasn't tested defensively by Livi, Inamura didn't look out of place as he stepped in for the rested Kieran Tierney.
Rodgers was pleased by the versatile stopper's performance, but in an interview with Celtic TV, he reiterated: "I was pleased for those guys who have come in.
"Hayato Inamura, I’ve always said I think that he’s come here, he can play in games of dominance when you have 75–80 per cent and can serve it. So he did well."
Meanwhile former Hoops star Matt O'Riley has shown his true colours by naming Celtic Park as his favourite stadium.
Ahead of Sunday's trip to Everton's new multi-million-pound ground, O'Riley and his Brighton teammates were quizzed on the best arenas they've played at.
And midfielder O'Riley - who spent two-and-a-half trophy-laden years in Glasgow - didn't have to think twice when he delivered his answer.
In a video posted by the Seagulls, O'Riley immediately answers Celtic Park before patting his chest and giving a thumbs up, adding: "Always".
The Denmark international joined Brighton in a £25million deal last summer and has been linked with a money-spinning move to Juventus.
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