‘Devastated’ Christie is ruled out by Covid rules
Celtic boss Lennon bemused and frustrated as ‘devastated’ star Christie ruled out of derby
NEIL LENNON says confused Celtic have met resistance and want answers over Ryan Christie’s Old Firm exclusion. Parkhead chiefs have been left bewildered at a lack of communication in their efforts to have the “devastated” attacker r available for today’s game e against Rangers.
Christie and Scotland d team-mate Kieran Tierney y were placed into a 14-day y self-isolation period after r NHS Lothian officials s
deemed them to have close contact with Stuart Armstrong, who recorded a positive Covid-19 test.
Both players were due to miss their weekend club matches but Arsenal were increasingly confident Tierney will get the green light to face Manchester City today in the English Premier League after the Gunners pleaded his case.
Christie has recorded two negative tests since thee self-isolation period begang and his manager said: “You can’t have one allowed to play and one not, so we’re confused as to how this has come about. We’ve been asking about Ryan for the last week or so and have met esistance.
“We want answers to some questions and I’m sure our supporters will be the same. We’ve had no clarification. If anything, we’ve just been met with complete resistance.
“Ryan was devastated. He’s negative and has been for the last week to 10 days. So we have a fit and able player not being allowed to play, which we find, if Kieran can play, very confusing.
“We haven’t really been given a reason, it’s just on the protocol basis. The lads maintain they were social distancing from Stuart, 2.8 metres away. “They’re sort of guilty by association more than anything and we feel it’s over the top at the minute.
“Arsenal have had the go-ahead from the digital/cultural people in England.
“They’ve gone through a different line of inquiry and have won their case, if you want to call it that.”
While players south of the border can have their cases examined by Premier League, government and health chiefs, there is no such wriggle room in Scotland.
The Celtic manager has planned his team without Christie for the showdown, but said: “He probably wouldn’t start, obviously, but I’d rather have him available than not.
“He has tested negative twice now. He has no symptoms and has been training on a treadmill provided to him by the club. There is no reason why he can’t be available.”
Sources insist the difference is Tierney tested positive in August and has three months’ immunity.
Celtic are already without positive cases Nir Bitton and Hatem Abd Elhamed, while Odsonne Edouard only returned to Glasgow yesterday having been in self isolation for 10 days. Lennon added: “We are testing at a lot of expense, we are following the protocols and to lose four players is very unpalatable indeed.”
The boss was relieved to report no more cases or injuries. He said: “Odsonne’s symptoms were like mild cold symptoms and he was feeling very tired, so he wasn’t able to do anything.
“Bitton was flat out with it the last couple of days but he’s starting to feel better, while Elhamed is isolating back in Israel.
“Albian Ajeti trained the last couple of days. He’ll definitely be in the squad.”