Snow means Lustig will miss Old Firm clash

Hoops defender was due to serve one-match ban against Dark Blues

Celtic’s postponed game against Dundee last night means suspended right-back Mikael Lustig will now miss the match against Old Firm rivals Rangers a week on Sunday.

The 31-year-old Sweden right-back was sent off in the 2-0 Ladbrokes Premiership win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Sunday after picking up two yellow cards.

He was due to serve his automatic one-game ban against the Taysiders at Celtic Park, but last night’s match was postponed due to snow.

Lustig will be able to play in the home William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final tie against Championship side Morton on Saturday but – should the fixture with Dundee not be hastily rearranged – boss Brendan Rodgers will require a replacement for the trip to Ibrox on March 11.

Costa Rica international Cristian Gamboa took over from the Swede in the goalless draw against St Johnstone at Celtic Park on February 18, where fellow right-back Anthony Ralston – fit again after being out since September with a knee injury – sat on the bench.

Rodgers had targeted the Dundee game to bring back on-loan winger Patrick Roberts, who has recovered from a hamstring problem that has kept him out since November.

New signing Marvin Compper was set to be involved for the first time against the Dens Park side and could be in line for an appearance against Morton.

The 32-year-old German defender sustained a calf injury training in Dubai in January after signing from RB Leipzig during the transfer window, but he is now fit again.

Rodgers revealed earlier in the week that Belgium defender Dedryck Boyata, who is out for a month with a groin complaint, could be ready for the game against Rangers.

Midfielder Stuart Armstrong is expected back after the international break at the end of March following hernia surgery although striker Leigh Griffiths’ return from another calf problem is uncertain after he saw a specialist.

Meanwhile, former Hoops striker John Hartson insists it is no surprise to see “sought after” boss Rodgers linked with succeeding Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

The Hoops chief is on a four-man shortlist for the post, alongside Joachim Low, ex-Rangers midfielder Mikel Arteta and Monaco’s Ligue 1-winning head coach Leonardo Jardim, according to reports in England this week.

Despite signing a contract until 2019 last summer, pressure has been piled on Wenger – whose Gunners side face Manchester City in the Premier League this evening – following their meek 3-0 surrender against the same opponents in last Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.

Arsenal are currently in sixth spot, 10 points off Champions League qualification.

Hartson is adamant Rodgers deserves to be among the names in the frame, having added an invincible domestic treble in Scotland and a place in the Europa League last-32 to his achievement of guiding Liverpool to a secondplaced finish south of the border.

“It doesn’t surprise me. Brendan is a top manager and he will get linked with jobs,” said Hartson, who played for Arsenal between 1995 and 1997.

“I know Scottish football gets criticised, but he’s on the cusp of winning his second treble with Celtic. They made progress in Europe by getting through to the Europa League by beating Anderlecht in the Champions League.

“Brendan Rodgers is a very soughtafter manager. Celtic want to keep their manager who is absolutely revered in Scotland for doing such a great job.”

SNS Group. Picture: Celtic’s suspended defender Mikael Lustig will miss the Old Firm game on March 11 after last night’s game against Dundee was postponed.