Tom Rogic scored on his first start for almost two years as Celtic showed no ill-effects after a midweek trip to Azerbaijan in the Champions League to record a 2-0 victory at Partick Thistle in the Scottish Premier League on Sunday.
Australia’s Rogic, 22, had not been named in a Celtic starting XI since the former manager Neil Lennon’s side suffered a shock League Cup defeat to Morton in September 2013, having been plagued with injuries but he opened the scoring on 28 minutes before Kris Commons made sure of the points just after the hour.
“It’s been a while since I started a match here. I felt really good to be out there and it was positive to get a goal, and we also kept a clean sheet so it was a good day. I got an opportunity and I felt I did OK and hopefully I can push on from here and keep going.
“The manager has told me just to keep working and I will get a chance. It was nice to be out there and get a goal,” Rogic told the club’s website.
“It was a long road and at times you get a bit negative. I have been working really hard over the past year and working towards a day like this, so it’s really pleasing. Everyone in the dressing room has been really positive and made the past year easier going in each day.
Celtic earned a goalless draw in Baku and a 1-0 victory on aggregate on Wednesday to line up a Champions League play-off against Malmo later this month.
Aberdeen also won 2-0 on Sunday, courtesy of goals from Graeme Shinnie and Adam Rooney in a home game against Kilmarnock.
Celtic, Aberdeen and Hearts all have a maximum six points from their first two games of the season.
