Brendan Rodgers reveals double Celtic injury blow with Carter Vickers and Nawrocki ruled out as he targets defender

Brendan Rodgers has confirmed he is on hunt for another Celtic centre-back as Cameron Carter Vickers and Maik Nawrocki are hit with lengthy injury blows.

The Hoops are looking to show a response to adversity this weekend when they host St Johnstone in their first Premiership match since losing 1-0 to Kilmarnock in the Viaplay Cup's last 16. It's brought plenty of scrutiny upon the Parkhead squad and transfer business to date, with the Irishman calling for 'quality' in Rugby Park defeat aftermath.

Aris forward Luis Palma has been linked and it's claimed that Parkhead chiefs have tabled a bid of £3.5m to bring him to the club. But a defensive crisis at the back has also prompted concerns, and with new signing Nawrocki and Carter-Vickers BOTH out for eight weeks in a hammer blow, Rodgers will go seeking defensive reinforcement. Currently, Swedish defender recently signed from Elfsborg Gustaf Lagerbielke and Liam Scales are the fit centre-backs at Parkhead with Yuki Kobayashi on the periphery, and Stephen Welsh is also out long-term.

Rodgers said: "It's been disappointing for us in terms of Cameron Carter Vickers, Maik Nawrocki and Stephen Welsh probably about eight weeks. Stephen Welsh had an operation the other day and came through it the other day. We were hopeful the other two would be back sooner but further scans on them puts them at about eight weeks. Reo Hatate will be back during international break and Mikey Johnston will be next week. Kobayashi will be international break. Alistair Johnston is back which is great news for us."

On signing a central defender, he says: "We have to look at it, no doubt. It's an area we are light on and when you are losing three players for that length of time knowing the number of