Brendan Rodgers has confirmed James McCarthy is set to leave Celtic this summer.

The Republic of Ireland midfielder, 32, has endured a difficult spell at the club since signing a four-year contract at Parkhead two years ago.

McCarthy has played just 27 times for Celtic since arriving in Glasgow and only featured for the first-team for 801 minutes in total.

It has been a nightmare scenario for player and club with the move simply not working out how either party would have liked or expected.

Now, McCarthy is expected to move on and fine a new club with discussions between his representatives and Celtic chiefs over any "compromise" ongoing.

“I feel real shame for James, because growing up he was obviously a Celtic supporter," said Rodgers.

“I saw him a lot down in the Premier League and he was a fantastic talent there both with Wigan and Everton.

“Sadly for James, a few injuries and a few niggles have curtailed his time here, so he will be looking to move on.

“But he’s a great guy. He trained really well with the group when I first came in here and I’ve had a couple of really good conversations with him, but he’ll be looking to move on.

“I think there has been interest, and I know that his agent has been talking to the club to see if we can find a compromise for him.”

At one stage Joe Hart could have been filed under the same section as McCarthy with intrigue over how he would fare at Celtic.

However, Hart has nailed down his spot as No.1 at Celtic with questions now over whether he could be handed a new deal at the club to extend his stay past next summer.

“I’ve had a couple of good chats with Joe," Rodgers confirmed. "Listen, Joe came in here a few years ago and everyone wondered how it would work out, and he has done fantastic.

“The players are still adapting – all of them – to what I am asking them to do, and that is going to take a wee bit of time. And then in that time, I get the chance to see it.

“There is absolutely no question about his personality. He is a great guy, a very, very humble man. At 36, to see his hunger and desire every day, it’s absolutely first class.

“I have a really good relationship with him, and if there was ever any change to that, he would be the first one I would speak to.

“The type of keeper he is, is the type of keeper he’s virtually always been. He’s a brilliant shot stopper, a big presence in the goal, a great communicator, really good in the changing room.

“There are aspects of his game that he’s tried to develop with his feet and accuracy of passing, he’s tried to do that. He can play the simple passes, it doesn’t need to be complex.

“But as I said, he’s at that stage of his career where I just know he’s enjoying it here. He probably thought this had passed him by, the big club mentality, and all of a sudden he is here and he’s had a great ride for a couple of seasons.”

Asked whether the goalkeeper could remain in Glasgow beyond this season, Rodgers added: “Yeah. You always assess it, because again, there is family matters there too. His family are down south and he is up here, so there are other considerations other than the football.

“But what I do know from speaking to him is that I see the joy that he has had here, and I see the feeling and the respect he has gained from the people here, so that is very important for him.

“He’s a great ambassador for the club. He has time for the supporters, and that is always important at a club like Celtic, because without the supporters the club is nothing.

“So, you have to show that respect, and he does that, he engages with supporters.

“He is great with his teammates, and his leadership qualities – his behaviour, the way he behaves in the correct way – it is as you would expect from a top professional.”