Celtic FC Women defeated Boroughmuir Thistle in the Scottish Cup fifth round yesterday lunchtime and they did so without the services of Australian international playmaker Jacynta.
And it now looks like Fran Alonso will have a nervous wait ahead to see if Jacynta will be able to play any part in the upcoming Glasgow Derby at the Excelsior Stadium with theRangers a week on Friday, after being pictured at the Meadowbank Centre in Edinburgh wearing a protective boot.
That was prior to yesterday’s comfortable 5-0 win, which saw Celtic make it to the Scottish Cup Quarter finals as they look to defend the trophy they won in dramatic fashion after extra time -and with ten players – against Glasgow City at Tynecastle last May.
Yet before any thoughts of defending their Scottish Cup can enter the player’s thoughts, Celtic have a crunch Derby meeting with their Glasgow rivals and it could have a massive impact on Celtic’s hopes of playing Champions league football next season – and of course on their chances of lifting a first ever SWPL1 title.
The Celts currently sit second in the SWPL1 table, three points behind top of the pile Glasgow City, but with a ten-goal advantage over the league leaders. Meanwhile theRangers are very much also in the title race a further point behind Celtic with both sides quite unbelievably level on a goal difference of plus 75.
As such the 24 February clash – a Friday night meeting with a 7pm kick-off – could have a massive impact on where the SWPL title ends up this season. After all, should the Celts emerge victorious, a four-point lead over theRangers would allow Celtic some breathing room in the battle for second spot and Champions League football, but also allow them to shift their focus entirely on chasing down City in top spot, with the two sides due to clash next on Sunday 5 March, with that tie also due to be played on Celtic’s ‘home’ ground.
Two home wins therefore could have a massive impact on Celtic coming out of those fixtures top of the league looking down on both their Glasgow title rivals, and to do so Jacynta would likely be a difference maker in both those games.
It could well be Jacynta’s moon-boot protective footwear could be little more than a cautionary addition to her match-day attire, but it’s a sight that will be of concern to Celtic fans ahead of some massive SWPL fixtures in the coming weeks.
Let’s hope Celtic FC Women’s player of the year can recover in time for those crucial encounters because as the league moves into the business end of the season, there is no doubting Celtic would be all the more dangerous if they can call on the match winning skills of Jacynta to unlock their title rival’s defences.
One other injury concern which emerged from yesterday’s Scottish Cup success was an injury to two goal Chloe Craig – who was substituted yesterday as a ‘precaution’ – according to head-coach Fran Alonso speaking to Celtic TV post-match – after receiving lengthy treatment for an injury, with Fran Alonso stating the ever-dependable defender had an injury that would require some medical assessment.
‘Yes, it’s just precaution at the moment, She needs to speak to the doctor, so somebody’s going to drive her now and we will assess over the next two days.
‘We’re going to have an x-ray just to make sure there’s no fracture, it’s unlikely, but just to make sure. She says she’s feeling fine, but hopefully it’s nothing because it’s a very important player for us and we wish her a speedy recovery’.
There were no post-match thoughts from Fran Alonso on Jacynta’s chances of recovering in time for some massive games coming up over the next few weeks, but hopefully the injury to Chloe Craig is one the Celtic stalwart can recover from quickly.
Niall J
