Ange Postecoglou is hopeful that Carl Starfelt will be back in Celtic training over the next week with recovery from his hamstring injury going well.
Starfelt has been missing for the entirety of pre-season after sustaining the issue on international duty with Sweden.
The plan has always been to get him back in training in the week ahead of Aberdeen and the big defender has managed to stick to that timeline.
Postecoglou told The Daily Record: “We’re hoping he’ll join in training at some point this week. He’s in the last stages and doing all the physical stuff away from the group.
“So knock on wood, he’s passed every stage and the handover to the football department should happen next week. That means that hopefully within a week or two he’s ready to go.”
That’s positive news, with Starfelt still considered a starter in the heart of the Hoops defence.
He built up a productive partnership with Cameron Carter-Vickers last season and will be keen to resume that heading into the new Premiership campaign.
Postecoglou does have other options, for now, notably new signing Moritz Jenz and Stephen Welsh, with Christopher Jullien also still at the club and contributing.
Starfelt will take some time to build up fitness and match sharpness, but Postecoglou will be eyeing him to play a prominent role sooner rather than later.
Right now, it’s an opportunity for one of the others to impress in training and stake a claim for the upcoming Aberdeen match.
In other news, Video: Ange Postecoglou reacts to Celtic win over Norwich City.
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