Maik Nawrocki in Celtic injury sweat as Brendan Rodgers faces fresh woe with defender touch and go for Rangers

Brendan Rodgers faces a sweat over Maik Nawrocki ahead of the Rangers clash - as Celtic’s defensive problems continue to pile up.

The Polish defender has suffered a hamstring injury and was sent for a scan on Monday. Nawrocki is now likely to be sidelined for a couple of weeks. He is likely to sit out of Saturday’s home clash with St Johnstone and could be touch and go for the trip to Rangers the following weekend, depending on how he responded to treatment.

It is another unwanted blow for the Hoops after Kilmarnock knocked the holders out of the Viaplay Cup at the weekend. Recent signing from Legia Warsaw Nawrocki finished the game but then had his injury assessed. Celtic are already struggling in terms of central defensive options, with new arrival Gustaf Lagerbielke the only one fit out of Rodgers’ first four.

Cameron Carter-Vickers also came off with a hamstring issue in the recent win over Aberdeen while Stephen Welsh suffered ankle ligament damage in an accidental training clash at the end of last week. Welsh hopes to be back in just over two months but Rodgers admitted the worst case could see him be out for three or four months.

Japanese midfielder Reo Hatate is also out with a thigh issue, while right-back Alistair Johnston has given Celtic a lift by returning to training.

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