Brendan is a star to me but he was in no mood for chatting after we beat Celtic

STEPHEN DUKE-McKENNA had a handshake with hero Brendan Rodgers when Celtic visited Perth a fortnight ago.

- FRASER MACKIE

STEPHEN DUKEMCKENNA had a handshake with hero Brendan Rodgers when Celtic visited Perth a fortnight ago.

And the winger will be happy to stun him into silence again with a shock St Johnstone victory today.

Liverpool fan DukeMcKenna has revealed he made a beeline for the ex-Reds manager after Saints chinned the champs 1-0.

He didn't get much back from Rodgers on the McDiarmid Park pitch.

But the Celtic gaffer was complimentary about a cracking effort from the Premiership's basement boys.

Duke-McKenna and Co are aiming to repeat the trick in today's Hampden semi-final.

The on-loan Harrogate Town man will be thrilled to help Simo Valakari do the double over his former Anfield favourite.

Duke-McKenna explained: "Brendan Rodgers was a bit of a star to me because he was Liverpool's manager - the club I love. I liked him at Anfield, I liked the football and it was good to watch.

"He's a good manager and I like the way he plays.

"After the game I went straight to him to shake his hand but he didn't say anything to me - I think he was fuming they lost!

"I was just glad to meet him, so him saying nothing didn't wreck it for me. It was good. Even playing Celtic, in general, was amazing. I never felt I'd do something like that.

"Even being involved in a game like that, I saw as an achievement. I didn't think I'd be in Scotland.