Celtic defender Eoghan O'Connell is likely to go on loan in January

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has hinted central defender Eoghan O'Connell may go on loan for the second half of the season.

The Republic of Ireland U21 international made seven appearances for Celtic earlier in the season but has not played for two months following the return from injury of Jozo Simunovic and Erik Sviatchenko.

Rodgers is keen to ensure the 21-year-old continues to develop and Kilmarnock are believed to be interested in taking him to Rugby Park.

"We have had a couple of enquiries for Eoghan in terms of a loan. I think he's a young player that needs to play games," Rodgers said.

"There's a few clubs that are interested in him so we will see. He did very well in pre-season but the team has changed and he is not getting so much game time. So if he can get out on loan that will give him the game time he needs to develop."

Belgium international Dedryck Boyata was preferred to O'Connell in the 1-0 victory over Killie on Friday as he made his first appearance under Rodgers, with Kolo Toure and Simunovic not risked on the synthetic surface following recent injuries.

Boyata helped Celtic keep a seventh consecutive domestic clean sheet after looking nervy in the early stages of the match.

Rodgers said: "I thought he did well. He had two mistakes in the first half. I said to him it's one of the areas he needs to brush up on his game. But in the main he was very good.

"The issues came when we were building play. In that pitch, if you're half an inch out with your pass the ball flies away from you. When we give it away in our half, it's a problem.

"But in the main I thought he defended well, the first full game for the first team for a long time. That's a big credit to him because he has been working and fighting away.

"It's a demonstration of how hard he is working in training."