CROCK LUSTIG IS OUT OF LUX
Calf injury sweat for Celts ace Mikael
CELTIC face a fresh injury sweat after defender Mikael Lustig missed Sweden training with a calf problem.
The full-back sat out preparations for their World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg on Saturday and away to Holland on Tuesday.
Lustig is struggling with a calf problem according to Swedish medics and is resting as a precaution but is a major doubt for the clash with the minnows.
The news is another concern for Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers who has already seen central defender Jozo Simunovic ruled out for a spell with a hamstring tear.
The 23-year-old was withdrawn from the Bosnian squad after scans showed the extent of his injury.
Scott Brown and Stuart Armstrong are also on the sidelines after missing the draw with Hibs with hamstring and calf problems respectively. They’ll also miss Scotland’s double header against Slovakia and Slovenia.
Celtic boss Rodgers has not had his problems to seek this season in defence.
Dedryck Boyata has only just returned from a two-month absence with a knee injury while Erik Sviatchenko is back in training after a similar long-term injury.
Yesterday’s news Simunovic is facing a race against time to be fit for the Champions League clash against Bayern Munich in two weeks has now been compounded by concerns over Lustig.
Celtic also face a Betfred Cup semi-final against Hibs and a Premiership clash with Aberdeen this month.
Meanwhile, fellow Hoops stopper Boyata reckons just being named in the Belgium squad is a personal triumph for him after his injury hell.
The 26-year-old could win his fourth cap in their Group H double-header against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Cyprus after Manchester City ace Vincent Kompany pulled out.
He said: “I regard being in the squad as a small victory for me after the months I have had.
“I only played my first game in mid-September and I’ve been through a number of games since then and we have a big month coming up. The manager sees something in me.
“Any time you are selected to play for your country it is very important.
“I want to show what I can do on the pitch.”