TO lose not one but two of the options available to you in what has been considered something of a problem position for your team for some time ahead of one of the biggest games of the season is a far from ideal situation for a manager.
But Brendan Rodgers, who yesterday confirmed his first choice centre half Dedryck Boyata will be out for around a fortnight with a groin injury, yesterday insisted he is unperturbed about the predicament Celtic are in ahead of the Europa League last 32 double header with Zenit St Petersburg.
“Dedryck’s probably going to be a few weeks,” said Rodgers. “He has obviously been for me, in the main, very, very good when he’s been fit in my time here so it is unfortunate. We still have quite a long list of them.”
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Boyata, the Belgian who was involved in five of Celtic’s six group games in the Champions League this season, is even doubtful for the rematch with Zenit on Thursday week. “It would be touch and go,” said Rodgers. “The medical team is saying a round about a couple of weeks so that would be tight.”
Marvin Compper, the former Germany internationalist who was signed from Bundesliga club RB Leipzig in a £1 million deal during the January transfer window in a bid to add quality to the defence, is also sidelined.
But the Celtic manager, whose side will look to take another significant stride towards a second consecutive domestic treble by beating their top flight rivals Partick Thistle at home in the fifth round of the William Hill Scottish Cup tomorrow, is more than comfortable with the players he has at his disposal.
Kristoffer Ajer has recovered from the knock he suffered against Kilmarnock last weekend, Mikael Lustig, who has been moved from his preferred position at right back to the heart of the rearguard on occasion this season, has returned from injury and Jozo Simunovic, who was rested at Rugby Park, is also available.
“We’ve had to have a squad that is going to allow for that when you have so many games and you have so many young players,” said Rodgers.
“I think the squad is starting to piece itself back together even though we still have some injuries. We have players starting to return and hopefully that will make us really strong for the last part of the season.
“We try to not cry about it or moan about it. You have to pick a team and you have a squad for a reason. But it doesn’t help when there is constant change in certain areas of the field.
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“I think there are certain areas where you do have to have freshness, but sometimes we have looked to get a rhythm with the team and then one or two players get injured. But we just deal with it.”
Rodgers is certainly confident, despite the loss Celtic suffered at the hands of Kilmarnock on their notorious artificial surface in Ayrshire at the weekend, that Dorus de Vries is capable of deputising for Craig Gordon while the Scotland keeper is out with a knee ligament injury.
The Dutch goalie this week revealed he had been wanted by a Premier League club in England during the summer and had been prevented from leaving by his manager.
The Northern Irishman is confident the experienced player, who played as the Glasgow club suffered a record 7-0 defeat to Barcelona in the Nou Camp last season, will show his quality in the weeks and months ahead.
“There has never been any doubt about Dorus for me,” he said. “He has been a loyal support for Craig and showed incredible professionalism in how he has looked after his body and his mind to make sure he was always ready to play.
“He is certainly a better player than on what people are judging him on really. He is a goalkeeper who has worked in the Premier League and worked at a level that tells you he is a really competent goalkeeper.
“There’s a great run of games for him to play. The Scottish Cup is a real prestigious tournament and we want to win it again, but he’s ready and I’m sure he’s really enjoying his time in the team.”
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Meanwhile, Rodgers has expressed hope that his former Swansea City player Steven Caulker, who signed an 18 month deal with Dundee yesterday, can get his career back on track after experiencing problems with alcoholism, depression and gambling addiction.
“Steven has had a difficult few years,” he said. “I took him on loan from Tottenham at 19. He showed that he was going to go on and be a top young talent. He played the Olympics for Great Britain and won an England cap.
“His career was on the up. It’s clear to everyone he’s had his issues and it’s been difficult for him. I hope he can get back onto the pitch and get playing because, if he does, he’s a big talent.”
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