Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has explained why midfielder Yang didn't feature in his side's matchday squad against Rangers on Saturday.

The Scottish champions overcame their rivals 2-1 at Celtic Park on the day, with goals from Matt O'Riley and an own goal from John Lundstram enough to render Cyriel Dessers' first-half header a consolation.

Over the course of the match, Rodgers brought Adam Idah, Nicolas Kuhn, Tony Ralston and Tomoki Iwata off the bench, replacing Kyogo Furuhashi, James Forrest, Alistair Johnston and Reo Hatate respectively, all between the 70 and 80th minutes of the match.

Yang might have been considered for extra support in the midfield during this stretch had he been among the substitutes, but the manager has now explained why the 21-year-old was absent altogether.

He said: "Yang just had a slight issue with his foot but everyone has come out looking fit, looking strong, trained well, and ready for tomorrow… Everyone [else] is really good."

READ MORE: Why Rodgers and Celtic will exact revenge on Kilmarnock

Full-back Johnston was subbed off as a result of injury on Saturday – the defender feeling the ill effects of Lundstram's red card-meriting foul earlier in the game – however he too is expected to be fit when Celtic travel to Kilmarnock on Wednesday night.

"John's tackle is slightly mistimed, he catches [Alistair] high, and unfortunately for him in the modern game where there's VAR and everything else, it's easy to get sent off," added Rodgers. "And if that happens in an iconic game then, of course, it will be out there.

"Thankfully Alistair wasn't too badly hurt. He struggled in the game and had to come off afterwards, but he's alright and he's available for the game tomorrow."

With two games of the Scottish Premiership remaining, Celtic need just one point to clinch a third successive championship – from either Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Wednesday or St Mirren at Celtic Park on Saturday.

Second place Rangers, on the other hand, host Dundee at Ibrox on Tuesday evening before travelling to Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday afternoon. Dropping points would in turn hand the title early to Celtic.