Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has provided an update on key players’ fitness ahead of Sunday’s trip to Dingwall to face Ross County in the Scottish Premiership.
The Hoops boss shed light on the current status of Cameron Carter-Vickers, Greg Taylor, and Alistair Johnston.
Speaking about Carter-Vickers during Friday’s press conference on Celtic TV, who has missed the last few games due to injury, Rodgers confirmed that the American centre-back won’t be available this weekend. However, the club is hopeful he’ll return after the upcoming international break:
“Cam’s still not available… We’re hoping that Cam will be ready for after the international break.”
Greg Taylor, who was substituted at half-time during Celtic’s Champions League defeat to Borussia Dortmund, will also miss out due to a calf issue: “Greg Taylor will miss the game for a slight problem in his calf, so he’ll miss out… Greg probably won’t be too far after [the international break].”
There was better news regarding Alistair Johnston, who had been dealing with a stiff back but trained without issue: “Ali’s fine, he’d come off with a stiff back… but he trained this morning, so he’s okay.”
Celtic will look to return to winning ways on Sunday, and while Carter-Vickers and Taylor remain sidelined, Johnston’s availability offers a boost to Rodgers’ defensive options.
It will probably see Alex Valle get his second start in a Celtic shirt, and it is probably well-deserved. He was good from off the bench against St Johnstone, and again looked good on Tuesday, despite the defeat.
Alongside him will probably be Liam Scales and Auston Trusty, who was poor in Dortmund, with Alistair Johnston presumably taking up the position at right-back.
No real surprise that CCV and Taylor are unavailable for this weekend, as was expected?
Thought AJ may well have been included also, but thankfully that doesn’t seem to be the case?
Yet regarding AJ, it could be questionable as to whether he has a full 90 minutes game within him all the same?
Valle slotting in for Taylor was potentially on the cards even if Taylor was to be fit and available?
Trusty will possibly remain in the CCV position for Sunday?
Still Rodgers don’t seem to trust Rocki in the position?
Which I find a bit surprising still, and even more so if CCV isn’t going to be available for after the international break?
Raises the question as to whether a more suited left sided CB is the better option than having a right sided CB in rocki as the potential back up for CCV?
Think Sunday could be an opportunity to see, but very doubtful that Rodgers will introduce rocki as a potential starter all the same imo?