Daizen Maeda is Celtic injury doubt for Rangers clash as Atletico red card proves even more costly

Daizen Maeda's red card against Atletico Madrid has come with a double whammy, as Brendan Rodgers reveals he's injured himself during the incident.

The Japanese international is out for the next six weeks and it leaves him in a race against time to be fit for the festive derby with Rangers on December 30th. Maeda is also likely to miss the remaining two Champions League matches against Lazio and Feyenoord alongside a host of Premiership clashes. Celtic host Aberdeen on Sunday.

His red card was just the start of a bad night in the Spanish capital for boss Rodgers, who's side were thumped 6-0 with their European hopes post-Christmas left dangling by a thread. He launched himself into a tackle with Mario Hermoso which was initially deemed a yellow card, but VAR had a look and deemed it a red card offence, which has got punters and pundits debating over whether the original ruling should have stood.

The Atletico defender also collided with the Celtic forward's lower left leg in the collision and has strained his medial knee ligament. It leaves Rodgers with the likes of Luis Palma, Yang Hyun-jun and James Forrest on the flanks.

Rodgers said: “Daizen will probably be up to six weeks out with the injury from the challenge. He has strained his medial knee ligament. If he was in stronger in the challenge he probably wouldn’t have had the injury. The clash of feet has just opened up the knee ligament.

“It’s a big shame for us because he has been brilliant for me since I came here.”

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