Former Celtic midfielder Jackson Irvine has hailed the appointment of Brendan Rodgers in a recent interview.

The Australia international, currently playing at St Pauli in the second tier of German football, spent five years at the Glasgow club, making one appearance for the side.

Irvine believes that this reappointment is a solid move for both parties. Speaking to Sky Sports News, he said: “It’s a great appointment. He has the emotional connection to the club which is so important at a club like that. He needs to really understand the fans and the city.

“I know there was a bit of controversy around the way he left to go to Leicester City but there’s no doubt Celtic are getting a top coach who is capable of doing it at the highest level.

“The big challenge for him now will be maintaining the dominance in the league and trying to then push those performances into Champions League success and seeing the club in those knockout stages where they have been in the past.”

READ MORE: The Celtic transfer lessons that Rodgers must learn from

Irvine made his professional debut at Celtic in the 2012/13 season under Neil Lennon. He spent two consecutive years out on loan at Kilmarnock and Ross County before signing permanently with the latter in 2015.

After a year in the Highlands, he secured a move down south to Burton Albion, before being picked up by Hull City a year after that. After three years with the Tigers, he was released, with Hibs offering him a contract after six months of being a free agent. Later that year, he joined his current team, becoming the joint captain alongside left-back Leart Paqarada.

Glasgow Times:

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