CELTIC defender Jozo Simunovic will face an extended spell on the sidelines as the Croatian recuperates after undergoing surgery.

The 25-year-old received specialist treatment on a knee injury and Celtic manager Neil Lennon has revealed that the centre-back is unlikely to feature until the new year.

"We're probably looking at three to four months," he said. "It was a clean-up.

"He knows what he has to do for his rehab and we're discussing if he can maybe go away for a few weeks and do some rehab at home.

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"He's doing well. It was a blow for us and a blow for the player but he felt it was a necessity. Thankfully it's not a micro-fracture again, which is a serious operation that would put him out for six to eight months. 

"He's had a clean-up and obviously we have to tread carefully with his rehab.

"But the sooner we get him back, the better."