Celtic manager Neil Lennon has provided fans with an injury update on a trio of attacking talents who have been missing from the friendly matches in France, The Glasgow Times reports.
Tom Rogic, Mikey Johnston and Vakoun Bayo have all been notable absentees for the games against Nice and Lyon, with the Hoops boss giving minutes to the vast majority of the wider squad.
Now their situations are a bit clearer and it’s not great news regarding Johnston and Bayo, who have already had their fair share of injury problems over the last 12 months.
As quoted by The Glasgow Times, Lennon said: “He [Johnston] has got an injury and he’s back home. Mikey has been having problems with his calves and he needs to see a specialist.
“He’s not had much luck. It’s been a bit stop-start but with his age and going through the maturation process he’s picking up injuries. It’s frustrating for him and frustrating for us.
“Bayo has an injury too and he is getting treatment. And Tom Rogic rolled his ankle towards the last day in Loughborough but he should be back for Tuesday.”
Johnston was missing from action between September and November last year and was injured again in January until the end of the season, so this latest setback is another blow to his development as a Celtic winger.
Bayo meanwhile has barely featured for the club since arriving in January 2019, making just two starts against Hearts and Partick Thistle.
With Leigh Griffiths also struggling for fitness, depth issues are again rearing their head in attack.
The update on Hatem Abd Elhamed last night was at least a positive, with Lennon confirming he should be fine after a collision with Moussa Dembele against Lyon.
In other news, Frank McAvennie has backed Griffiths to put his problems behind him and be ready for the start of the Scottish Premiership campaign.
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