Lincoln playmaker Liam Walker has backed Brendan Rodgers to be a hit at Celtic, but hopes the Imps can make his Hoops dugout debut as uncomfortable as possible.
Former Portsmouth midfielder Walker did not come across Rodgers during his time at Fratton Park but has admired the former Swansea and Liverpool manager’s footballing philosophy from afar.
Gibraltan champions Lincoln welcome Celtic tomorrow in a Champions League second qualifying round clash at the 2,000 capacity Victoria stadium and Walker, who has also played top-flight football in Israel with Beni Yehuda, is hoping to make life difficult for Rodgers and Celtic.
He said: “I didn’t come up against Brendan Rodgers during my time in England but it’s obviously good for Celtic to have appointed him as manager.
“His way of seeing the game is the modern way and and the way fans like to see football being played.
“He likes playing football as we’ve seen at the clubs he’s been at, like Liverpool.
“It will do Celtic good having the manager they’ve got; not for our games but for the future I wish them the best.
“Everyone is looking forward to Tuesday, we’re getting the training in and making sure we’re all prepared for it.
“You watch your opponents and you’re aware of their strengths and weaknesses, we’ve got more work to do on that but we’ll also focus mainly on what we do.
“We have to make sure we implement our game right.
“We just need to go out and play the football we know we can do and if we do get any chances, we have to take them.
“The main thing is not making any mistakes really, at this level any mistake could cost us a goal. We all know that and the main thing is being focussed.”
Gibraltar international Walker, who joined Lincoln in 2014, admits a two-legged tie against the Hoops is the perfect platform to seal another big move.
The 28-year-old said: “My football has been my life and anything that is a chance to make my career better, including going to a bigger club, is always an option.
“I have had the options before to go to clubs in England but at the time the offer wasn’t good enough for me to leave home.
“I’m a player that has ambition and if there’s a chance to move on, I’d be looking to do that and doing even better.”
