Celtic dealt bleak setback as Brendan Rodgers confirms Paulo Bernardo injury timeline

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Brendan Rodgers has confirmed Celtic midfielder Paulo Bernardo will be sidelined through injury for the next ‘four or five weeks’.

Bernardo started Celtic’s 5-0 Scottish Cup demolition of Raith Rovers last Saturday night but had to be substituted out of the clash.

The Portuguese star injured his ankle in a tackle and initially tried to carry on after a bit of treatment. But it was evident he couldn’t continue and had to go off.

He missed Celtic’s 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday with Rodgers hopeful beforehand that the injury wouldn’t be serious.

But the Northern Irishman has now told the press ahead of Celtic vs Dundee United at the weekend that Bernardo will miss the next few weeks.

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Celtic star Paulo Bernardo injured for ‘four to five weeks’

Bernardo has already played 36 games for Celtic this season, scoring three goals and chipping in with four assists across all competitions.

He might now miss the next five Premiership clashes, as the Celtic manager said: “Paulo will be out for a few weeks.

“He’s got his ankle in a boot, so he’ll be four or five weeks. Everyone else is fit and available after Wednesday night’s game. 

“With so many games, the squad depth is needed. Paulo has done great for us this season. What we’ve tried to do with all of the players is keep them fit by rotating and maximising the whole squad. 

“Sadly, he’s out for a little while, but we do have good numbers in that position.”

Positive James Forrest injury update

On a brighter note, Rodgers told reporters that winger James Forrest made his return to light training on Thursday.

He hasn’t played a single minute for the Hoops since playing his part in the Premier Sports Cup final victory over Rangers in December.

Forrest finished the game but was spotted afterwards with a protective cast on his foot and was set to miss the following six weeks out.

Of course, it’s been a much longer stint out than that but Rodgers says that Forrest should be back available over the next few weeks.

Rodgers said of Forrest: “He had his first day out on the pitch yesterday, starting to move and jog. Hopefully, in the coming weeks, he’ll be coming back.

“I said that to him (he came alive at this time last season). I said that to him, ‘in February or March you came and saved the day.

“He’s a brilliant player and made a great contribution at the beginning of the season for us as well. He’ll be a great addition when he comes back.

“He’s nowhere near that (a return this week). He is just planting his foot out on the grass yesterday for the first time. It’s going to be still a few weeks yet.”

Forrest is one of the most decorated Celts of all-time and needs just one more trophy to overtake Bobby Lennox as the club’s most successful player.