Bilel Omrani and Lacina Traore both doubts for Celtic trip

By David Walton

September 30, 2019

Bilel Omrani and Lacina Traore are both doubts for the trip to Parkhead this Thursday night.

The Cluj duo both came off in the 3-0 win over Gaz Metan yesterday. Omrani scored his side’s third goal after initially coming on from the bench. However, with his side having made all three substitutes, he had to be sacrificed for the closing stages.

Striker Traore also had to come off during the contest too. He initially came off for Omrani at half-time, and now both have apparently picked up some knocks ahead of Thursday night.

Billel Omrani scored twice at Celtic Park (Alex Nicodim/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Cluj assistant manager Alim Minteuan provided an update post-match. Speaking to TelekomSport, he couldn’t confirm whether either man would be fine for the trip to Scotland.

“For the moment they have some bruises. We will see tomorrow what is really going on with them. But for now it’s bruises. We only know so much.

“We have peace after this game because the victory was needed. The team played very well. The boys had an attitude and we now go up to Celtic.”

Omrani was the hero last month

It seems like a decade ago yet it also seems like it was just last night. However, Omrani is the man who won the Champions League tie between the two sides last month.

The striker fired home a late brace after initially being marshaled well throughout the contest. His rebounded effort that he fired beyond Scott Bain still haunts us to this day.

Cluj recorded an historic Celtic Park success last month (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

It would be ideal if he was fit to play. It would provide Celtic with the ultimate satisfaction if the same XI who beat us were overcome at Parkhead this time around.

It’s most likely that Dan Petrescu took both Omrani and Traore off as precautions. The fact it’s just bruises at the moment suggests that, if Cluj really want to, they can include both men.

George Tucudean is out with a heart condition (Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)

George Tucudean, who scored the fourth goal at Parkhead last month, wasn’t in the squad last night. He’s missed Cluj’s last seven matches through another injury. If disaster did strike, Cluj could be without their three main strikers for their Parkhead visit.

Every effort will be made to ensure both Traore and Omrani are both fit to face us of course. They simply can’t afford for them not to.