'His ceiling is so high'
The 22-year-old headed home Celtic's third goal from an Arne Engels corner as the Rodgers' side beat Falkirk 4-1 at Parkhead to reach the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals.
The central defender made his first appearances for Celtic in the Champions League play-offs against Midtjylland in 2021 but subsequently suffered two separate cruciate ligament injuries and did not play another first-team game for three years.
He was recalled from a loan spell at Queen's Park midway through last season but injury ended his campaign prematurely after he returned to the Celtic team.
However, he was one of six players drafted in by Rodgers on Friday and took his chance with a header from close range.
Rodgers said: "It's great for him because he's a great boy. He's got a lot of potential. And I think over the next 12 to 18 months, he's going to really grow.
"His ceiling is so high. There are areas of the game he needs to clearly work on. But he's 6ft 4in, he's quick, he can take the ball.
"He has a comfort with the ball which aligns with top players. Just, concentration is something that's key for defenders.
"But I really, really like him and that's the reason we've tied him down [to a new contract] - and I think he's got a great future."
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