CELTSINCARL CROCKSWEAT
Nations League win against Slovenia.
Starfelt was winning his fifth cap but the 27-yearold was immediately ruled out of the double header against Norway and Serbia.
Celtic are keeping close tabs on him, with the Hoops squad expected to report back ahead of the pre-season training camp in Austria in early July with the big kick-off later in the month and the Champions League group stages in September.
Starfelt is understood to have suffered hamstring damage and Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the Kyogo Furuhashi and David Turnbull crock hell – who both missed four months with hammy tears.
Starfelt admits it looks bleak for him. He said: “I felt a stabbing pain in my back so I had to go off.
“Of course it’s not fun, especially not when you get the chance to play and you want to take your opportunity.
“But sometimes it’s like that in football, I have to see now what kind of injury it is.
“We’ll see what it is, but it does not look very bright.
“If I am lucky, the X-ray may not show anything and I can recover in a few days, but right now I do not see it as very likely.”
Starfelt’s injury woe is a headache for Postecoglou – who has already started plotting for next season.
The Hoops boss is looking to tie down defender Cameron CarterVickers on a permanent deal after agreeing personal terms, but the £6million-plus move has still to be ironed out with his club Spurs.
Celts have been left short of central defensive cover. Versatile Nir Bitton left at the end of the season, leaving Christopher Jullien – who spent more than a year out injured – and youngster Stephen Welsh as the only two senior centre-backs at present.
Postecoglou also wants to get a deal for Jota over the line. The Portuguese ace is currently on holiday but is understood to be close to agreeing a £6.5m permanent switch to Parkhead on the back of a blockbuster loan spell from Benfica.
Meanwhile, Celtic have released midfielder Luca Connell after deciding not to take up his final year option.
The 21-year-old is now a free agent and considering his options on both sides of the border.
Celtic paid around £350,000 to take the midfielder from Bolton back in 2019, but Connell has struggled to make his mark for the Hoops.
The Republic of Ireland Under-21 cap has spent the majority of his time on loan at Queen’s Park, who he helped win back to promotions from League Two to the Championship.