Fears Jonny as new injury stops Hayes from shining on tour
Luckless Jonny Hayes is facing a Champions League sweat after limping out of his second comeback game for Celtic.
The Irishman left the stadium wearing a heavy strapping after suffering a thigh strain in the loss to Bohemians Prague.
Hayes returned from six months out with a broken leg to play an impressive 45 minutes in the opening tour match against Vorwarts.
But having started strongly once more against the Czech outfit he was forced to go off after just half-an-hour.
Boss Brendan Rodgers is hoping the issue is not too serious with the opening Champions League qualifier against FC Alashkert looming in just nine days.
The Celtic manager said: “His thigh is a bit tight. It was a shame because he started quite well, combining with Scott [Sinclair].
“We will just have to see how he is. Hopefully, we have just been a wee bit cautious but he felt his thigh when he had a shot that went just wide. Jonny is a very dynamic player but hopefully it was just a twinge and it will be nothing too serious.”
Hayes’ setback at the Huber Arena in the town of Wels came just before a rare error from in-demand Kieran Tierney cost Rodgers’ side the game.
Celtic lost out despite a bright start where they threatened constantly.
Record signing Odsonne Edouard wasn’t up to full speed on his first outing but his team still carried menace.
Hayes shot wide, James Forrest hit the bar and Sinclair had a header saved before the winger also had a curl ing str ike brilliantly touched around the post by Bohemians keeper Roman Vales.
But when Hayes went off injured after the f irst water break, the tide began to turn and Dominik Masek scored the only goal after Tierney’s slip.
The defender’s first touch was placed under pressure on the touchline by Craig Gordon’s clearance and his heav y chest- control bounced away from him allowing the Czechs to break and score.
Rodgers said: “As long as it doesn’t happen in games that matter. I think we were surprised a wee bit by the pass but that’s okay and apart from that he was very good.”
The Parkhead boss changed the team for the restart with midfielder Olivier Ntcham taking the captain’s armband from Scott Brown.
Leigh Griffiths for Edouard was amongst the sweeping changes but Bohemians had the better of the second period and deserved their win.
Rodgers was simply pleased to get more game-time into legs. He said: “The scoreline is irrelevant in terms of our main objective. Fitness-wise it was good.
“We had a game on Wednesday and double sessions on Thursday and Friday – that’s why we looked a wee bit leggy.
“I thought we started the game brightly, got in some good positions and we made a mistake for the goal. It will happen at this stage in the season and it was a very good 90 minutes for both teams in some very diff icult conditions.”