CELTIC manager Brendan Rodgers has issued a cryptic challenge to Socceroos sensation Daniel Arzani - suggesting the young gun needs to match his talent with work ethic to become the ‘next Harry Kewell’.

The 19-year-old joined the Celts on a two-year loan from Melbourne City in August, but is unlikely to make his first team debut any time soon according to the Scottish Sun.

“Daniel hasn’t played 90 minutes of football, here or in Australia,” Rodgers said.

“This is a young player who burst onto the scene back home and is regarded as a talent.

“But he is very new into his life as a professional and has just been with us for three weeks.

“It’s the adaptation to a new country, new club, new football.

“It’s just time, he’s a talented young player and the idea with a talented young player is to go from a talent to a professional.

“It will be our job to manage the expectation, every young player in Australia hopes they can be the next Harry Kewell,” the manager said.

“Harry was a special talent but Daniel is a young boy who has talent, over the coming years we will see if he has the commitment to go with the quality he has.”

Despite speaking at length about the Aussie teen - and referencing the likes of past great Harry Kewell - the manager fell short of actually comparing the two wingers.

The cryptic nature of his comments suggests a challenge of sorts to the former City star, wherein Rodgers intimates Arzani is still a long way from being a fully fledged professional.

And that only through hard work and commitment can the teenager hit the heights of a star like Kewell.

Celtic take on St Mirren on Saturday morning in the Scottish Premiership.