Reo Hatate Celtic injury latest as midfielder and Liel Abada get timeline for return amid weekend absence

Ange Postecoglou says he hopes to have the likes of Reo Hatate back in the Celtic fold 'within a week or so.'

The influential midfielder missed last week's derby with Rangers but his teammates got the job done by emerging 3-2 winners over their rivals. Liel Abada also missed out of that one and both won't be involved this weekend when Celtic make their way to face Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

Now they are 12 points clear with seven games to go in the Premiership, it appears a matter of when not if the Parkhead club will lift the title like they did last year. But to do that within the next three games means they will need to collect maximum points in that round of fixtures and must go to Ayrshire without their influential midfielder and winger. Rangers will come again in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden later this month but Postecoglou expects his injured crop back before then.

He told Sky Sports: "There's no real change from last week, boys who missed last week will miss again. All of them are working their way back to being involved in the next week or so but at the moment, status quo."

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