Celtic received mixed news from Friday’s training session ahead of Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Rangers.
Cameron Carter-Vickers was back involved with the squad, but SunSport reports that Mika Baur was not spotted as Martin O’Neill continued preparations for the trip to Ibrox.
O’Neill explained before that game that the defender had been feeling sore following the victory over St Mirren and was being rested as a precaution.
Seeing him back on the training pitch therefore points towards progress ahead of Sunday, with the American a major option in central defence if O’Neill feels he is ready to return.
Baur’s absence creates a little more uncertainty.
The German midfielder played the full 90 minutes at McDiarmid Park and scored the only goal of the game, arriving in the box to turn home Haissem Hassan’s delivery early in the second half.
It was Baur’s first goal for Celtic and another encouraging performance ahead of what would be his first taste of the Rangers fixture.
There has been no confirmation from Celtic that the 22-year-old is injured, and missing from one training session does not necessarily mean he will be unavailable on Sunday.
It is still something to keep an eye on given the timing.
Baur has put himself firmly in the conversation for a starting place at Ibrox after his recent displays, while O’Neill also has Benjamin Nygren, Oliver Sørensen and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain available among his midfield options.
The more encouraging sight was Carter-Vickers back working with the team after his midweek absence.
With Sunday now approaching quickly, O’Neill will hope Baur’s omission proves to be nothing serious while having one of his most experienced defenders moving closer to a return.
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