Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has been raving about Jonny Hayes on his comeback from injury, as the Irishman played in the Hoops’ 1-0 friendly win against SK Vorwarts on Wednesday night.
Hayes, 30, missed six months with a broken leg injury, but looked sharp over in Austria, as the Bhoys preparations continue.
Speaking post-match, Rodgers expressed his admiration for the senior winger, indicating that the friendly fixture could have been a much-needed confidence boost for the winger.
“It was six months to the day since Jonny had his operation. It is great for him and he had one tackle in the second half that would have been great for his confidence,” Rodgers stated as quoted by the Daily Record.
“There is no doubt he has put in a lot of work to get ready. You saw his running ability and strength and power. He’s there and it’s still very early in the season, so it’s good.”
OPINION
Jonny Hayes had played a large squad role for Rodgers up until his untimely injury, having featured in 20 games. The injury was a crucial one, at a crucial point for the Ireland international, and his confidence must have been at an all-time low. Celtic will be hoping that more of these friendly fixtures can continue to boost the morale of the winger, as Rodgers could look to the 30-year-old’s experience when the season starts once more. It will be important to have a large squad with multiple fit players for the Hoops, as the arduous qualification process for the Champions League will take its toll on the squad, and these games are perfect preparation for Hayes, who actually played a large part in the Champions League last season, featuring in four European fixtures. Although Hayes is not prolific, he is certainly a valued member of the squad and it must be very encouraging to see him on his way back to full match fitness. The Ireland international’s next chance to impress will be on Saturday 30th of June, versus Bohemians 1905.