DEDRYCK BOYATA will not feature in the Celtic side at Tynecastle today due to a mysterious back injury.
Brendan Rodgers last week ruled out an English deadline day transfer to Fulham for the Belgian World Cup star as he needed the central defender for the vital Champions League qualifiers this month.
Boyata was not ready to play any part in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with AEK Athens at Celtic Park with the manager having to play the inexperienced central defensive partnership of Jack Hendry and Kristoffer Ajer.
Ajer was to blame – along with Mikael Lustig – for allowing the Greek Champions to equalise just before half-time and the Norwegian youngster also picked up a yellow card in the second half that rules him out of the return leg on Tuesday.
Ajer’s suspension makes Boyata’s return all the more important but he is now a major doubt for the match.
Jozo Simunovic is also expected to return to the side after being left on the bench in the first leg against AEK Athens.
January signing Marvin Compper remains injured – he joined a group of Celtic players in a training exercise on the pitch at Celtic Park last Saturday after the 3-1 win against Livingston. The players involved in this session were the ones not involved in the match just finished. Compper apparently walked off injured after a short period on the pitch.
Cristian Gamboa is also carrying an injury at the moment and missed training yesterday.
Botaya could still leave Celtic in this transfer window with clubs in Spain and Italy interested, although Brendan Rodgers has not given up and hopes to convince the player to sign a new deal at Celtic.