Celtic picked up a vital three points in the Europa League against SK Sturm Graz but Brendan Rodgers has ended up paying a heavy price with THREE major injury blows that will further weaken his squad well into the New Year…
First up with new signing Kelechi Iheanacho went down inside the first few minutes with what turned out to be a hamstring injury. His night was over and you could see that the striker was visibly upset. Celtic went behind to a terrific goal and also lost Alistair Johnston, just back from the hamstring injury he suffered in the ill-fated tie against Kairat Almaty back in August. This was Celtic’s second casualty of the night and with both players having to be substituted Brendan Rodgers had one further round of substitutes to make.
Bringing on Michel-Ange Balikwisha meant that the Celtic manager was unable to look to his bench in the closing stages with Cameron Carter-Vickers clearly struggling. Celtic’s Big Strong Man saw things out, and made sure of a final flurry inside the last 30 seconds of stoppage time amounted to nothing.
As the referee blew the final whistle Arne Engels celebrated but it was a different story for Cameron Carter-Vickers who looked in some pain as he lay on the turf at the edge of the penalty area. The American international was clearly a major doubt for the trip to Tynecastle on Sunday afternoon for what is clearly the game of the season so far in the Scottish Premiership.
However, speaking to Sky Sports today, Brendan Rodgers confirmed our most fears breaking the bad news that CCV is out for up to five months after suffering a serious Achilles tendon injury last night.
“He looks like he has done his Achilles, which could be anywhere between three and five months. So we just await confirmation of that. It’s not great news, but we will see where that one goes. Cameron has been a very important member of the squad, of course, and a great centre-half for the club.
“What I always think it does is opens up an opportunity for someone else. That opportunity came to Liam Scales and he has been brilliant in my time here, and you seen his performance last night and he was so good – and it will open the door for someone else to come in and look to perform.”
Auston Trusty, as Just an Ordinary Bhoy mentioned earlier on The Celtic Star, is likely to start at Tynecastle and has played at the right side of the defence alongside Liam Scales on many occasions previously. Trusty too is just back from injury so hopefully he is good to go for Tynecastle.
The only other option would be Dane Murray while in the absence of Alistair Johnston, Brendan Rodgers has to decide between the experience and defensive qualities provided by Anthony Ralston or the youthful enthusiasm and attacking intent of young Colby Donovan. The Celtic manager opted for the latter last night but may go for a more cautious approach on Sunday by starting the Scotland right-back.
Johnny Kenny played over 90 minutes last night after Kelechi Iheanacho left the field with just two minutes played. The Irishman will surely start on Sunday and expect Shin Yamada to return to the match-day squad. The failings of the Celtic board in the summer window really has left the manager short of players for the number nine role and this has to be one of several areas to be dealt with as a matter of urgency as soon as the January window opens.
Here’s Brendan Rodgers speaking to Sky Sports today, breaking the bad news on CCV-s injury. Sound is poor so turn up loud.
🚨 BREAKING Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers is facing “between three and five months” out with an achilles injury ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/yRsh3HTfOj
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) October 24, 2025
Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter, signed copies by Danny McGrain available from celticstarbooks.com
Don’t miss the chance to purchase the late, great Celtic historian David Potter’s final book. All remaining copies have been signed by the legendary Celtic captain Danny McGrain PLUS you’ll also receive a FREE copy of David Potter’s Willie Fernie biography – Putting on the Style, and you’ll only be charged for postage on one book. Order from Celtic Star Books HERE.
There’s no denying that the injuries last night is a setback for ourselves, but hopefully not enough to derail our season also imo.
You undertake a squad building process to hopefully overcome the likes happening during the course of a season.
We weren’t able to manage only 2 injuries within the squad, very well in the second half of last season.
This is going to be a far stiffer test now, especially with ourselves looking to build upon last night, with getting a far better level of consistency within our performance levels, which in turn should bring about better results for ourselves in return.
Rodgers was right to have 5CB available for himself within the squad building process, especially now with the CCV injury. Rodgers opts for 3CB within his SPFL match day squad, so having scales, Trusty and Murray shouldn’t be any reason for the panic button to be pressed, just yet hopefully imo?
Scales has had a habit of having a stronger first half of a season, moreso than the second half, so hopefully he can expand upon that, and continue with his high consistency levels for ourselves.
Don’t know if we have a recall option upon Welsh come January, but will possibly depend upon how things develop in the CB positions between now and then imo.
We still have cover available in the full back areas, so wouldn’t class ourselves in major trouble defensively, despite missing both AJ and CCV.
Don’t think the 3 at the back option will be used to often now by Rodgers?
Even without AJ and CCV it still remains an option available for ourselves if required.
With that in mind, I wouldn’t class our defensive squad building options as to shoddy whatsoever.