What's happened
Celtic's recent Europa League win was overshadowed by serious injuries to key players, including Cameron Carter-Vickers, who is expected to be out for 3-5 months. The injuries threaten upcoming matches, especially the crucial game against Hearts, and may impact their European and domestic campaigns.
What's behind the headline?
The injury setbacks for Celtic highlight a critical vulnerability in their squad depth. Carter-Vickers's injury, with a projected absence of 3-5 months, is particularly damaging given his role as a central defender and his potential to impact the US national team for next summer's World Cup. The recurrence of hamstring injuries among key attackers and defenders suggests a possible over-reliance on a limited squad, which could hinder their domestic title challenge and European ambitions. Moving forward, Celtic must adapt quickly, possibly by promoting youth players like Dane Murray or shifting Kieran Tierney to centre-half, to mitigate the impact of these injuries. The timing of these injuries is unfortunate, as they threaten to derail momentum ahead of a pivotal match against Hearts, where points are crucial for maintaining their top position in the Premiership. The club's medical staff will need to work swiftly to rehabilitate injured players and prevent further setbacks, or risk a prolonged slump in form.
What the papers say
The Scotsman reports that Celtic's Cameron Carter-Vickers is expected to be out for three to five months due to an Achilles injury, which could affect his chances of participating in next summer's World Cup. AP News highlights that Carter-Vickers felt pain during the Europa League match against Sturm Graz and that Celtic's manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed the injury. The Scotsman also notes that other key players like Daizen Maeda, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Alistair Johnston are dealing with hamstring issues, complicating team selection for upcoming fixtures. The articles collectively underscore the severity of Celtic's injury crisis and its potential impact on their season.
How we got here
Celtic's recent performances have been affected by injuries to key players like Daizen Maeda, Kelechi Iheanacho, Alistair Johnston, and Cameron Carter-Vickers. The team secured a vital Europa League victory against Sturm Graz but at a cost, with multiple players sustaining injuries that could sideline them for months. The injuries have compounded existing squad issues, raising concerns ahead of upcoming fixtures.
Go deeper
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Brendan Rodgers is a Northern Irish professional football manager and former player who is the manager of Premier League club Leicester City.
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Kelechi Promise Iheanacho is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Leicester City and the Nigeria national team.