Celtic Injury News: Shaun Maloney Gives Arne Engels Update

Shaun Maloney has offered an injury update on Celtic midfielder Arne Engels after he was forced off in the first half of last night’s win over Livingston.

Engels went down early and did not reappear after the break. Given the state of the injury list, the sight of him walking off was the last thing anyone inside Celtic Park needed to see.

This is not a quiet spell in the calendar.

Seven games in 20 days is staring this group in the face. Martin O’Neill has already labelled it “season-defining”. Losing a regular starter in the middle of that would be a serious blow.

Maloney did not have a definitive answer, but his tone suggested caution rather than panic.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said:

“No, it’s still a bit soon. That’s a shame. I think Arne has been a standout for us since we’ve come back.

“I think that’s probably what makes the Alex [Oxlade-Chamberlain] signing even more important. Luke McCowan was brilliant against Dundee. The squad’s in good shape.

“Hopefully, Arne’s not too long.”

🗣️ “It was a big night last night, I think there are a few more to come.”

Shaun Maloney on that late winner against Livingston, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s impact, the title race, Roberto Martinez being linked to the Celtic job and facing Kilmarnock on Sunday – live on Sky 📺 pic.twitter.com/Q6B11R4kEA

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) February 12, 2026

There is an acceptance there that Engels might not make the next one.

Maloney was quick to reference Oxlade-Chamberlain and Luke McCowan, and that felt deliberate. The manager knows what is coming. Kilmarnock away is not the fixture you want to be light in midfield for.

If this is more than a knock, the recruitment of the Ox could prove timely.

For now, it sounds like a waiting game. But when Maloney says it is “a bit soon”, that usually means the medical staff are not ready to rule anything out.

With this run of fixtures looming, Celtic cannot afford passengers or patched-up performances. If Engels is sidelined, the depth Maloney spoke about is about to be tested immediately.

Elsewhere, Maloney has played down rumours linking Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez as the next permanent manager of the Hoops. 

The pair worked with each other at Belgium, with Martinez also once playing for Motherwell.

Jose Mourinho is rumoured to be lined up as Martinez’s Portugal replacement after the World Cup, fuelling talk of a move to Glasgow. 

Though Maloney played it down, saying the focus is fully on winning games of football.