As the Cheltenham festival wound down for another year yesterday, it was perhaps an opportune time for Brendan Rodgers to draw an analogy between Celtic’s season and the winners who ultimately went into the record books over the course of the week.

His side have hit more than a few fences over this term, and have had to deal with more than a few handicaps along the way too, such as a plethora of injuries, unrest from the stands, a middle-east conflict affecting the availability of one of his star wingers and a disappointing January transfer window.

However, both he and his team are still standing, and are still in this title race as the two favourites turn for home. And should Celtic emerge as the victors, Rodgers is stressing to his players that no one will remember what went on beforehand.

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Of course, he is in something of an unfamiliar position at the minute, being the one stalking the leader, Rangers, rather than being the one out in front. But that isn’t perturbing him as he tries to project a level of constancy to his men during this season of flux.

“It doesn’t really make a difference to me,” Rodgers said.

“It’s all about how you finish the race. This is the point that matters. There was a lot of noise and everything around the beginning of the season for whatever reasons.

“But ultimately, it’s part of the season and I will be interested if we win the league and the Scottish Cup what the thoughts are around that.

“But my only thought is for the team going into a real exciting bit, having these players back, and dealing with the pressure that comes with these last period of games.

“Being the hunter or the hunted doesn’t really matter to me. It’s about performing and getting to the end point where you want to finish. I’m only thinking about the game [on Saturday], St Johnstone.

“We are still in a really good position with what looks like is going to be a strong squad for the run in. I am really looking forward to that because it’s been good, a challenge in so many different ways, but that’s why we are here - to take on those challenges and come together and finish as strong as we possibly can.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing the team perform against St Johnstone. I know the type of game it will be but I’m looking forward to seeing us cope with that and play with the intensity we want to get the three points.

“Then we will draw a line under it, recover and hopefully the international boys come back okay.

“Then we are into the last part of the race which is the most important part. It’s always about how you finish.”

One thing that would help Celtic finish strongly would be a fully fit Cameron Carter-Vickers at the heart of their defence, where he will line up against St Johnstone this afternoon after missing the Scottish Cup win over Livingston.

Rodgers is delighted to have him back, not only for the assuredness he brings to his backline, but for the effect he has on the rest of the team and the way Celtic are able to play.

“He’s such a big player for us,” he said.

“It shows you the level he is at because he makes all the players around him better. That’s always when you know you’ve got a really good player.

“His pace, power and his game knowledge - he snuffs out danger and gives confidence to the rest of the team.”

Rodgers has worked with some top level defenders over the course of his career, and he is sure that Carter-Vickers would rank creditably among them, just as soon as he has had a chance to properly judge him over consistent run of games.

“I’ll see over a period of time,” he said.

“I haven’t really had a lot of time to work with him.

“There’s no doubt he gained a lot of experience out on loan at different clubs with he was with Tottenham.

“He found a home here and he’s a player you trust your life with. He’s so strong, he’s so brave but he can play football and he knows football.

“He’s still got the best years ahead of him. Thankfully, that can be here at Celtic. He signed a new deal and now it’s just a case of getting over this inconsistent period of injury.

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“He’s never had that before, and he feels it has stemmed from his knee operation. That sometimes happens. It’s been an injury-hit season for him but hopefully he can now stay fit over the course of these next couple of months.

“Then if he has a good pre-season, he will be ready to go again.”

A few weeks ago, Rodgers was optimistic that the Celtic medical team had finally gotten to the bottom of the ongoing issues affecting Carter-Vickers, but he isn’t concerned about his long-term fitness despite the defender having another scare, preferring to err on the side of caution than lose him for a longer period.

“Innocuous moments have led to him being out,” he said.

“Earlier in the season, he felt something in the warm-up then thought he was okay.

“At Aberdeen, he made a sprint and continued to sprint and felt it wasn’t correct. At Ross County as well, it just didn’t feel right.

“Obviously we look closely at the management of it. This time last week, he just made a pass in training and felt something again.

“I think it’s also around having had the sensation before. Six months earlier, you wouldn’t even think about it.

“But because you’ve had a couple of injuries, it makes you think a little bit. We just didn’t want to take the risk with him last week because previous experience has told us that when he’s felt something and played on, we’ve ended up in a worse situation.”