Celtic Under-20s captain Sam Wardrop is feeling the influence of Brendan Rodgers in his trophy-chasing team.

Celtic's development team are looking to impress Rodgers by adding more silverware to the Parkhead trophy room on Wednesday when they face Rangers in the SFA Youth Cup final at Hampden.

Wardrop said: "He is quite involved with my squad, he has taken a few training sessions. He has also come in at the end of training sessions when he is finished with the first team when he watches a bit of ours and he will add things in when we come in and talk at the end.

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"He has also had separate meetings when he talks to us and tells us stories about players he has worked with in the past and what's required to be a top professional.

"He took us out the cafeteria to come and watch Kolo Toure in the gym. He is basically just highlighting to us what top players are doing, and Kolo Toure at the age of 35 is still doing it."

The 19-year-old has also been encouraged by the progress of former youth-team colleague Kieran Tierney, who was one of three Celtic academy graduates to feature against Rangers in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final on Sunday along with goalscorer Callum McGregor and James Forrest.

Wardrop said: "I've been with KT for years so it's amazing to see him make that step. But it shows it's not impossible, it makes you feel like you still have a chance.

"It shows the academy is working well and there is a conveyor belt of players coming through, and obviously everyone will progress at different stages of their career.

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"KT has done it from a really young age, some boys have to wait a bit longer. But it's not a one-off thing, it's happening regularly."

Rangers defender Ross McCrorie has similarly been encouraged by new Gers manager Pedro Caixinha.

The 19-year-old is on loan at Dumbarton but will feature at Hampden and has been training with the Ibrox first team since the Portuguese coach arrived.

"I have been training with him most of the time," McCrorie said. "He comes and watches us and in the corridor he will stop and talk away to you. All the first-team coaches come up and shake your hand, and it makes you feel more welcome in the first-team squads.

"Myles Beerman has been promoted into the first team and that gives us all belief. He has done really well and not looked out of place at all. It gives all the boys more confidence."