Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed a growing injury crisis in his defensive line ahead of this weekend’s match against Kilmarnock in the Viaplay Cup.
Key players Reo Hatate and Cameron Carter-Vickers have been ruled out of the fixture, and their conditions will continue to be assessed in the coming weeks.
Adding to Rodgers’ woes, defender Stephen Welsh, who just signed a new deal with Celtic on Friday morning, sustained a knock in training that puts his availability for the weekend’s match in doubt.
🔊 LISTEN: Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers says Cameron Carter-Vickers and Reo Hatate will miss this weekend and the club will “assess them over the coming weeks”.
He also confirmed Stephen Welsh has picked up a knock today after signing a new deal ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/VmqC8lEYCw
— Clyde 1 Superscoreboard (@ClydeSSB) August 18, 2023
The absence of Carter-Vickers and Welsh, two central figures in Celtic’s defence, could pave the way for new signing Gustaf Lagerbielke to make his debut at centre-back. Lagerbielke, a 23-year-old Swedish defender, recently joined Celtic from Elfsborg for a reported £3 million fee.
The depth of the squad will be tested, and Rodgers will likely need to get creative with his defensive selections.
As Celtic prepare to face Kilmarnock, all eyes will be on how Rodgers reshapes his defence and whether Lagerbielke will be handed his debut under these pressing circumstances.
Cant play slater and taylor on the left side they dont hsve the toughnest to grab a hold of the game if any team shuts them down i fear the worst yet we have know one else media will need to cover for them no hiata turnbull hasn’t got the staminia cant judge mohl on kilmarnock mattress id give him a chance he had speed and carries the ball well he can outrun there defence but papers and the usual pundits wheeled out to give them a gee up how great they are allyour usual shite sfa playing there part by by hand picked officail two that was in charge of kilmarnocks game one refereing the other on var goal against Celtic was i thought to close to call but var less than a minute the fastest yet on penalty a stone wall penalty declined and media dont even go through it now this yine they swap places the best referee in the country by far cant get near a Celtic F.C