Boyata on course for Rangers clash but setbacks for Armstrong and Griffiths
Dedryck Boyata is on course to return to action for Celtic in the Old Firm showdown at Ibrox on 11 March but Stuart Armstrong and Leigh Griffiths are both facing lengthier lay-offs than initially anticipated.
Belgian central defender Boyata has been sidelined since suffering a groin injury in the 1-0 defeat at Kilmarnock on 3 February. The 27-yearold has now resumed light training and Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers expects him to be available for the trip to face Rangers on Sunday week.
“Dedryck is looking good in his work on the training field and he will probably be back after this weekend,” said Rodgers. “That will be great news for us. He has been top class for us so it will be great if he’s back for the Rangers game.”
Rodgers will have to wait longer before he can again call upon midfielder Armstrong and striker Griffiths, however.
Armstrong has not played since having surgery on a hernia operation during the winter break, while Griffiths continues to be troubled by the calf problems which saw him last feature when he limped out of the 1-0 home win over Hibs on 27 January.
“Stuart has now stepped up the intensity of his training,” reported Rodgers. “Maybe over the course of the next couple of weeks, he could be back working with the main first team group but I think it’s probably going to be after the international break at the end of March before he can play again. “Leigh has now seen a specialist about his calves and what-not. Of course, even when he can get back on to the training field, he needs to get fit. So that’s going to be an extended period for him, really.”
Goalkeeper Craig Gordon, midfielder Nir Bitton and winger Jonny Hayes also remain on the absentee list for Celtic. But defender Marvin Compper and on-loan winger Patrick Roberts are both fully fit again and back in Rodgers’ squad for tonight’s Premiership fixture at home against Dundee. Dundee manager Neil Mccann is refusing to give up on a top-six spot in the Ladbrokes Premiership.
The 43-year-old has made no secret of his ambition to turn the club into top-six contenders, but defeat by Motherwell on Saturday saw them slip eight points behind Kilmarnock.
And things do not get any easier for Mccann, with his side set to face four of the top five before the split, starting at Celtic Park this evening.
But, although he admits it is now a long shot, Mccann remains optimistic.
“The result on Saturday hurt us a lot in terms of our aspirations for the top six, but, while it’s still achievable, we will never just roll up and die – that’s defeatist and I’m not like that as a person,” he said.
“It will be difficult, mentioning some of the grounds we have to go to.
“What it proved to me is that by getting to this stage of the season, we’re not a million miles away from being one of those top sides if we can just put together certain aspects of our games.
“We have performed really well this season without getting the results that might put us in that position where we would be comfortably in the top six.
“You should never turn your back on an ambition to be there, and I won’t.”
Dundee’s trip to face Celtic kicks off a run in which they will face St Johnstone, Aberdeen, Hearts and then Rangers, but Mccann believes it goes to show how strong the Premiership has been this season.
He said: “This division is tough all round. The quality this year has greatly improved from all of the sides because I think everyone thought it would be difficult this season, and it’s proved to be that way.
“The run-in we have, where we have to go to the three biggest teams in the country – and throw Hearts into it – it’s a difficult set of fixtures but it’s something we’re not frightened of.”
Midfielder Glen Kamara will miss Dundee’s trip to Celtic Park through suspension.