Brendan Rodgers addressed injury doubts, fitness issues and illness within the Celtic squad at his media conference at Lennoxtown yesterday ahead of the showdown with Dundee United at Tannadice…
Alistair Johnston set to miss Tannadice trip
Alistair Johnston was a second-half substitute in Celtic’s dramatic penalty shootout victory over theRangers at Hampden last Sunday as Brendan Rodgers’ men lifted the Premier Sports League Cup.
It has been revealed this week that the Canadian right-back played through a knock after he had suffered an impact injury against Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia’s capital 10 days ago.
Now, Brendan Rodgers explained yesterday afternoon that Johnston is a doubt for Sunday’s televised Scottish Premiership encounter against Jim Goodwin’s side.
He will be fine for the next game
Rodgers said: “Ali Johnson, we just need to have an eye on as well over these next couple of days. If he misses out this weekend, he will be fine for the next game, but we just managed that injury that he had.”
James Forrest out for six weeks
Meanwhile, the Celtic boss confirmed that Hoops legend James Forrest will “probably be out for six weeks,” after the 33 year-old suffered a knock in Sunday’s triumph at the national stadium.
Post-match, Forrest was seen wearing a protective boot in leaving Hampden which left many to wonder whether he had suffered a serious injury.
Rodgers stated: “James will probably be [out for]six weeks. He had a real bad blow on the game and to be fair for him to carry on, he showed great courage to do that. Sadly, we will miss him for up to that length of time.”
Illness within the camp
Without going into individual details, Rodgers confirmed that some players have been ill this week, but hopes they recover in time for tomorrow’s lunchtime kick-off against Dundee United.
“We’ve had a few bugs and bits and pieces going about, so hopefully they can tidy themselves up over the next couple of days and we have most of our players available for the weekend.”
Conor Spence
Celtic in the Thirties
As always now, there are a number of decisions to be made regarding our starting line-up?
Scales or Trusty, Taylor or valle, kyogo or idah, Paulo or Engels are usually the main ones?
Could be a bit different tomorrow if illness is within the squad, as to just who are the strongest fitness wise to start, and who might be only able to contribute a bit part in tomorrow’s match?
The loss of forrest, means Rodgers is going to have to trust Yang and Palma moreso over this very congested period of matches, and Rodgers hasn’t placed very much trust in either, to date this season, especially within the SPFL?
Idah would be my favourite to lead the line tomorrow, against the Goodwin anti football tactics he likes to play.
Still think valle is a better option than Taylor, and can link up better with Maeda, and create more attacking options from our left side imo?
Both Scales and Trusty were guilty of making high profile mistakes last Sunday, but still believe that Scales is better suited for the physical demands of the Scottish game over Trusty at present imo?
Paulo has been our best midfield option on current form lately, and needs to hopefully start?
Still think Engels might be more suited for the calmac role within our team, but remains highly unlikely that we will see that decision been put into practice either?
Glad McCowan is available again, especially as he has a tendency to make things happen in an attacking sense for ourselves, and believe Rodgers could well do with giving such a player more playing time imo?
Will possibly be another big challenge again tomorrow, but should still have more than enough to gain the 3 points also?