BREND ON A HIGH NOTE

Rodgers signs off 2023 with a derby win as he gets his mojo back thanks to Celtic glory day

IN Brendan they trust once more.

After a difficult few weeks for the Celtic manager, there is faith restored at Parkhead.

Seemingly beleaguered, Rodgers now finds himself bolstered with fresh belief, reinvigorated by the return of the adulation that was showered upon him during his triumphant first spell in Glasgow's east end.

You only have to look at the two press conferences that straddled Saturday's Old Firm victory to see the uplifting effect this one result has already had on the Northern Irishman.

On Friday he cut a subdued figure as he sat down with journalists. His answers were curt, trimmed straight to the point.

Was it a sign of the strain he has been operating under since back-to-back defeats against Kilmarnock and Hearts left him open to a wave of flak? Who knows?

What we can say is that skipping forward to quarter past three on Saturday, as the delighted gaffer sauntered into the Celtic Park press room for his post-match debrief, suddenly you found the assured, self-confident Rodgers we all remember from first time round.

The purring praise for Callum McGregor, the thinly veiled dig at the five Rangers bosses he's now vanquished, the pointed mention of the fact his side have twice now overcome injury issues to see off Gers this season.

This was Rodgers in his element, a manager who knows he has put his doubters back in their box, with his team eight points clear and back in command of the title race no matter what the Ibrox side do with their two games in hand.

There's no doubt second time round has been a tougher mission for the former Liverpool and Leicester gaffer.

Winning over the fans burned by the scorching speed of his exit to the King Power Stadium a little under five years ago hasn't been easy.