Injury forces Roberts to miss clash with Bayern
BRENDAN RODGERS last night ruled Patrick Roberts out of Celtic’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich, admitting the winger’s hamstring injury is likely to leave him on the sidelines for several weeks.
Roberts was forced off after half an hour of the 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock, a black spot on a day which saw Celtic equal a 100-year-old record of 62 consecutive domestic matches without defeat.
The absence of the on-loan Manchester City player is likely to facilitate a recall for James Forrest and there could also be midfield adjustment required after Olivier Ntcham picked up an ankle knock.
‘With Pat, it looks like a hamstring, so we’ll get a scan on that,’ said Rodgers. ‘I would suggest he’d be out for a few weeks but the squad’s there to
cope. James will obviously come into the reckoning for Tuesday but, of course, it’s a disappointment to lose Pat through injury.
‘Olivier also rolled his ankle, which didn’t help us at the time of the goal because he couldn’t track the man into the box. So, it’s a sore one for him but we’ll assess that tomorrow and see how he is.’
Rodgers had actually picked a team designed to protect his strongest starting XI, leaving out six of the starting line-up that performed so emphatically in defeating Aberdeen away last midweek.
The changes affected Celtic’s rhythm. Although the champions dominated the first half, it took until the 43rd minute for Leigh Griffiths to open the scoring.
When Killie’s Jordan Jones equalised on the hour mark, Celtic toiled to find a way back in front and had to settle for a point.
‘It was a very frustrating game for us,’ added Rodgers. ‘Our attitude was very good, we had a lot of good possession in a lot of areas and the players gave absolutely everything.
‘We probably just lacked that bit of quality and final pass in the final third.
‘We got punished in the second half. I think Kilmarnock did very well, they sat in very deep, denied the space, all the players back in within 40 metres, which is always difficult.
‘But their organisation within that was good because we had good width.’
Nevertheless, Rodgers allowed himself a moment to enjoy the historic achievement of emulating a record set during the reign of Willie Maley a century ago.
‘To achieve that over the course of 62 games — and win something like 56 of them — is an absolutely incredible achievement by the players and so difficult,’ he said.
‘It’s been 100 years, so they’ve made that jump and it’s a great testament to their work over the last 17 months and how they’ve worked. Now they get a chance next
week to go out on their own, to get to 63.
‘Whatever happens, though, they’ve got their names in the record books.’
Griffiths was more blunt in his assessment, saying: ‘It’s a great achievement for everyone associated with the club, but we would rather have done it with a win.
‘We should be winning games like this comfortably but credit to Kilmarnock, they have got a point here, just as they did at Ibrox in midweek.’
Meanwhile, Bayern are sweating on the fitness of striker Robert Lewandowski ahead of their trip to Celtic Park.
The Pole was taken off just before the break with a ‘muscle problem’ after scoring in his side’s 2-0 home win over RB Leipzig yesterday.
Bayern say the substitution was merely a ‘precaution’.