Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has insisted that neither England nor Belgium will care about this afternoon’s game that will settle third and fourth place at the FIFA World Cup.

Celtic defender Dedryck Boyata could be in line to play for Belgium in a re-run of the group game the teams contested in the opening weeks of the tournament.

Belgium won that one but with Harry Kane still vying for a consolation prize of the golden boot there is an argument that there is something still to play for – but Rodgers has insisted that the players and coaches would have found it tough to motivate themselves for the best of the rest clash.

“Players won’t (want to play in it),” said the Celtic manager. “Coaching staff, not necessarily.

“There’s nothing to be gained from it. It’s an extra game onto a very long season and the beginning of another one.

“It might give other players the opportunity to play but I think once you are knocked out, especially at the semi-final stage, you really want to get back to your family, have a break and resume your next season.”

Meanwhile, Celtic have added highly rated youngster Armstrong Okoflex to their development squad.

The 16-year-old has turned down a scholarship contract with Arsenal to hook up at Celtic. The youngster has represented both Ireland and England at youth level and he is also eligible to represent Nigeria.

Okoflex played seven games for Arsenal U18s at the end of last season.

The Parkhead side take on Standard Liege this afternoon at Celtic Park with Brendan Rodgers keen to field as many players as he can.

“We have qualification games and friendly games, and we’re trying to give as many players as much game-time as we possibly can,” he said.

“The 3-0 win [over Alashkert] puts us in a really strong position. I was impressed by the players’ mentality and their physical fitness to play a game a week earlier than we did last year.

“What happens in football at this time of the season is that, once you tire, your technique goes. When you’re playing in those conditions, to retain that level of fitness in the last 10 minute and score two goals really show the level the players are at and how keen they are to get stronger and even fitter. So it was a good lead for us, although we still have to finish the job in the second leg.”