Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has spoken following a video going viral of striker Adam Idah during a night out.
Idah moved to Celtic last year, initially on loan from Norwich City, and scored nine goals in 19 games for the Glasgow side.
That move was made permanent over the summer as he penned a five-year contract at Parkhead, and has scored 14 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions for the Bhoys who appear destined to retain their Scottish Premiership title for the fourth season in a row.
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However, questions have been asked after a video went viral online which showed the 24-year-old looking a little worse for wear.
A short video filmed in the back of a taxi shows Idah looking disorientated on a night out and he says 'Oh my God man, oh f*****g hell!' before leaning out of the door and appearing to vomit, as he is comforted by two ladies.
Celtic boss Rodgers has been questioned by journalists about the video ahead of the Glasgow side's Scottish Cup semi-final clash against St Johnstone this weekend.
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And former Liverpool and Leicester City coach has explained the situation from his perspective, saying that Idah had spoken to him yesterday to tell him what had happened.
Rodgers has taken the chance to support Idah and referred to the player being on a day off when these events happened, adding that he believes it is a 'sad thing' cannot 'let his hair down' in his spare time without being filmed on a mobile phone.
He said: "I haven’t seen anything, but Adam rang me yesterday to take me through everything that happened.
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"I spoke to him again this morning. There’s a sadness to it. He knows, and the group knows, where I am at in terms of focus and mentality.
"But this was on a day off. The sad thing for me is that a 24-year-old football player in his spare time can’t sort of let his hair down without someone trying to film him.
"This is the challenge now for people in general, but in particular, if you are a young football player.
"I got the full story from him. I don’t have any doubt he is a great young professional.
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"He does absolutely everything to be the best player he can be. He has a nutritionist outside of the club, he does extra work.
"So I have absolutely no doubts about that. It’s just a shame these things get pieced together and make it look a lot worse than what it is.
"I haven’t seen it, but I’ve heard some of the guys mention it. He has to live with that, but I have no doubts on his mentality. He’s had an evening off on Wednesday and we were off on Thursday.
"We’ve got plenty of time before the game on Sunday. So I’m with Adam on that."
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Topics: Celtic, Brendan Rodgers
John McDougall