CELTIC defensive woes look like continuing into the Hamilton game on Sunday with Kristoffer Ajer being the one and only central defender in the squad that looks like being available to play.
So were are the rest?
JOZO SIMUNOVIC – status, injured
“He has a scan this afternoon on his ankle. He was in pain when he landed so we will have to assess that late,” Brendan Rodgers said today.
JACK HENDRY – status, injured
“I don’t think Jack is available at the weekend. He played against Partick with a really, really sore ankle. In fairness to him he put himself out there to play and he was in too much pain. So he will probably come into training at the beginning of the week,” the manager confirmed.
MARVIN COMPPER – status, injured
The German took part in a training exercise on the park after the Livingston game. Players who weren’t involved in the 3-1 took part, with the guys in the press box still in the ground filing their reports etc (The Celtic Star posts ours on the Supporters Bus waiting to move behind the Jock Stein stand!)
Anyway Compper joins in for ten minutes then walks off frustrated. His knee injury looks like it could be long term and the rumour he may not be able to play again. The guy gets stick but he was signed to play for Celtic and he’s been injured since an early training session with the club.
DEDRYCK BOYATA – status, in departure lounge
Someone suggested on social media the other day playing Peter Lawwell at centre half and offering him a clean sheet bonus. We’d never lose another goal all season was the suggestion! Even without the bonus, Lawwell would be a better choice than Boyata. The sooner he’s gone the better.
So for the Hamilton game we can expect to see either Mikael Lustig or Kieran Tierney moving in one to play alongside Ajer.
Maybe we should play Tierney in central defence, keep Lustig at right back and bring in Emilio at left back?
Meanwhile up front, Odsonne Edouard is also out for the Hamilton game but there is a chance that he will be ready for the Europa League Play-off against FK Suduva on Thursday.
“He will be back early next week,” Brendan said.
“He’s been a big miss for us, there’s no doubt. I think our pre-season started great, we were working on a shape and a structure that gave us a couple of strikers in the team and he is a real link player within that.
“Some of our football was very, very good in that period. He gets injured and it’s been a little bit broken from that.
“So it’ll be great to have him back. He gives us numerous options because of his qualities and his football intelligence.”
Ease him in gently on Thursday night, maybe for the last 20 minutes, then have him and Dembele in the team for the game against the World Beaters.
Craig Gordon’s thoughts on Celtic’s defending can be read HERE.
