Brendan Rodgers is sweating on Nicolas Kuhn’s fitness ahead of the hectic festive schedule after the winger sat out yesterday’s goalless draw at Dundee United.
The German was one of four first team players missing through injury and illness as Celtic dropped points for only the second time this season. Defensive duo Cameron Carter-Vickers and Austin Trusty were absent at Tannadice through flu while Alistair Johnston was nursing a hip injury.
Rodgers is confident the defensive trio will be recover in time for the Boxing Day clash with Motherwell at Parkhead which is followed in quick succession by a home clash with St Johnstone and a massive Old Firm derby at Ibrox on January 2. But as he rued a lack of cutting edge in the final third at Tannadice, the manager admitted he would need to wait on a clearer picture on Kuhn’s problem.
The former Rapid Vienna man has been sensational on the flank this season, scoring 12 goals and chipping in with a further 11 assists. Rodgers said: “Cameron and Auston were ill. Ali should be back for Thursday and we just wanted to give him recovery time.
“He did really well to play in the final so we just wanted to rest him. Nicolas, we will need to see. He’s been tentative with his knee and we didn’t want to risk that. I don’t know how long Nicolas will be out for. Hopefully it’s not long-term. He felt a problem with his knee and then he felt a twinge on Saturday. We hope that it’s not too long but I will find out more on Monday about whether he will be back for Thursday. He’d been running and moving okay but he felt a twinge when he passed the ball and we will need to see.”
Yang was handed only a second league start of the season ion place of Kuhn as Celtic failed to break down a resolute United rearguard.
Stephen Welsh made his second appearance of the campaign beside Liam Scales at the back too as Rodgers dug deep into his squad. The Hoops dominated possession with 17 attempts at goal – but only three on target. And Kyogo Furuhashi in particular suffered an off day in front of goal in blustery Tayside.
Rodgers said: “We had enough of the ball and the only thing that was missing was that final touch. We arrived into the area often enough but we couldn’t hit the target in the first half. We never made the keeper work and then in the second half, give credit to Dundee United for the way they defended.
“We still arrived into all the areas we wanted to but we just couldn’t make the breakthrough. Then the longer the game goes on, the more the opposition get some motivation. We kept fighting and my only downside was that we didn’t score – and that’s what gets you games. We missed Ali and Nicolas, who have been excellent for us. But we can’t use that as an excuse.”