Matt O’Riley turning on Celtic style is bittersweet as Brendan Rodgers offers assurance amid transfer hype

It’s a bittersweet experience for Celtic fans right now watching Matt O’Riley strut his stuff for the side, writes Michael Gannon in the USA.

The playmaker could be forgiven for allowing his thoughts to drift elsewhere, with fevered transfer speculation that would send most heads into a spin. Everyone knows O’Riley is being pursued by a host of clubs around the continent. There’s the concrete interest from Atalanta in Italy but a host of others waiting in the wings to enter into a bidding war.

Hoops fans are almost resigned to losing the 23-year-old this summer if a record-breaking offer lands in the Parkhead inbox. But in the meantime, it’s been business as usual for the player. Perhaps it’s a case of enjoying him while they can but boss Brendan Rodgers is adamant O’Riley’s focus is still fully on the job at Celtic until he’s told otherwise. The midfielder was at it again at the weekend, with another five-star display in the 4-0 canter against DC United.

It could have been a night for the pipe and slippers. The MLS outfit were not at full strength, it was about 30 degrees and the strange part-grass, part-plastic pitch looked like a worn-out carpet at a dodgy nightclub. Yet O’Riley glided over it, running the show, scoring a couple of goals and looking like a guy who is 100 per cent committed to the jersey.

It didn’t go unnoticed by his gaffer. Rodgers said: “Yeah, his attitude is first class. There’s absolutely no change in Matt’s demeanour or happiness. He respects and knows the privilege it is to play for Celtic. He knows what Celtic has given him and the development that’s come from being here. So it’s not a burden for him to be at Celtic.

“Clearly he’s developed into a fantastic player and when you do that at a club like Celtic, there’ll always be speculation and interest. But while he’s here, we’ll always work on improving him, developing him.

“He’s also of that nature. He’s got a first-class attitude and that’s why we’ve been really comfortable with the situation he’s in. He can captain the team the other night and he’s a fantastic professional.”

Rodgers must be tempted to lock O’Riley in a Parkhead cupboard and refuse to let him out until September 1. By that time he could do with a few new faces as well. The clock is ticking until the Premiership kick-off but the influx of new recruits has yet to happen beyond incoming keepers Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo.

Paulo Bernardo and Adam Idah could return but Celtic fans are in a holding pattern – sweating on O’Riley and waiting for new arrivals. But this is still a strong squad right now. Luis Palma and Nicolas Kuhn have come back looking sharp after showing flashes last term.

It wasn’t just about the football in DC, of course, with thousands of Celtic fans making the most of seeing their side Stateside. It’s something not lost on Rodgers and he said: “They came from all around the Americas to be here. Some flying in from Europe as well. It was a really nice night.

“That’s what makes Celtic as a club. It’s renowned worldwide. That iconic nature of the club is based totally around the supporters. The supporters travel everywhere in the world. They’re friendly, they’re humble, they always enjoy themselves.

“We’re honoured to play and protect the great history of this club while trying to create our own history within this team. That’s all for the supporters.”