Malky Mackay does not expect Brendan Rodgers to make major changes from Ange Postecoglou's reign at Celtic ahead of Ross County's visit to Parkhead on opening day of Scottish Premiership season

Ross County manager Malky Mackay does not expect Celtic to be a significantly different side this season under Brendan Rodgers.

The Staggies will be the first test for Rodgers after his return to Glasgow, replacing Ange Postecoglou in the summer.

Postecoglou had won numerous plaudits not just for his results, but also the swashbuckling style of football that his Celtic team played.

With Rodgers' return to the post, it remains to be seen whether that will change with County the first team to play them in competitive action this season.

Mackay knows his opposite number well, though, having worked under the Celtic manager at Watford, and the pair remained in close contact in the years that followed across a number of different jobs and roles.

County's manager, then, suspects that Rodgers bears more similarities with Postecoglou than differences, making it just as tricky of an away day tomorrow than it would have been last season.

"I think it might take a little bit of time for that to fully show," Mackay reasoned.

"I don't think there's that much difference between Ange and Brendan in terms of the set-up of the team – there are little bits, but it's not fully changed in terms of their shapes, formations and beliefs.

"There are more similarities between them than differences.

"If I look at the team that Celtic have picked over the last couple of weeks, it's nearly the same too, so they have a squad that has a way of playing and real talent.

"That's what we're up against. We'll be on their surface, in front of their fans, on flag day, and we have to go and make that as difficult as possible for them and try to win the game.

"I'm under no illusions that it will be a tough task."

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