Celtic loanee Paulo Bernardo has been set the challenge of proving himself by Benfica president Rui Costa.

The midfielder has joined the Scottish champions for the season, with an option to buy included in the deal.

It resembles the agreement struck between the two clubs for Jota in 2021. The winger was subsequently sold to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad for £25million earlier in the summer.

Speaking at a media conference, Costa admitted he will be keeping a close eye on all Benfica loanees.

He said: "We believe that they can become first-team players. It will be up to them to show themselves so that we can analyse whether they come back or not.”

Bernardo was one of nine summer signings made by Brendan Rodgers and the 50-year-old hopes the player will be available after the international break.

"Paulo, he’s had no football over the course of pre-season he has trained. We have to look at him," he commented.

"He’ll go away with the Portugal under-21 and hopefully get some game time and then come back and we’ll assess it from there.”

READ MORE: Why Brendan Rodgers smashed egg all over the doubters faces

Meanwhile, Celtic hero Chris Sutton has praised the Hoops' ability to "win ugly" after their victory against Rangers at Ibrox.

Rodgers' side ran out 1-0 winners after a strike from Kyogo Furuhashi at the end of the first half.

It is a result that puts the Parkhead club top of the league on goal difference, on the same points as Motherwell.

Writing in his Daily Record column, he said: "Rodgers wants silky football and has no doubt it will come but, in some respects, the manner of the triumph may have been even sweeter in the fact they had to battle and scrap in the second period.

"Patched up at the back, missing key players, boys like Scales rose to the occasion while highly-touted Rangers players flopped.

"It’s all right having the talent, but you need the traits to win ugly and do the dirty work and Rodgers’ team proved they have that quality."