Arne Engels Injury Update

Martin O’Neill has offered a positive update on midfielder Arne Engels after the Belgian was forced off late in Celtic’s Europa League defeat to Midtjylland.

The 21-year-old appeared to be in discomfort as he left the field, sparking concern that he could be the latest addition to the club’s growing injury list.

Engels has been a regular feature under O’Neill since the interim boss returned to the dugout, playing an important role in midfield during a demanding run of fixtures. His work rate and versatility have been key in helping the side balance domestic and European commitments.

With Celtic already dealing with several injuries to key players, including Kelechi Iheanacho and Callum Osmand, there was understandable worry that Engels might also be sidelined. However, O’Neill’s latest update provided a measure of relief.

He said: (TCW), “He’s a little bit sore at this moment.

“I think that they think that, they’re hoping that he’s going to be okay.

“I think it was just more stretching than anything else, so I think that’s the case.”

O’Neill’s comments will be welcome news to supporters, who have seen injuries start to test Celtic’s depth during a hectic schedule. With another important league match against Kilmarnock coming up on Sunday, the hope is that Engels will recover quickly and remain available for selection.

The Belgian’s energy and movement in midfield have made him a reliable option for O’Neill in recent weeks, particularly in games that require physicality and tempo. Losing him for any period would have been another blow, but the early signs suggest the situation is not serious.

Celtic’s medical team will continue to monitor Engels over the weekend, but the signs are encouraging. As O’Neill focuses on stabilising results before the international break, having the young midfielder fit and available would provide a timely boost to the squad.

While there are still other injury concerns across the team, O’Neill’s tone on Engels was notably more upbeat, a small but important piece of good news in what has been a testing run of fixtures for the Hoops.