Celtic are ‘bitterly disappointed’ with government health experts who have refused to clear Ryan Christie for action this weekend against Rangers, The Daily Record has reported on Tuesday.
The paper says that the attacking midfielder has returned multiple negative tests since being told to self-isolate following deemed close contact with Stuart Armstrong on Scotland duty.
A Celtic club source told the outlet: “We’ve been badly affected over the international break, and the situation with Ryan is particularly difficult to understand.
“But the team has a big game to focus on this weekend, and we have to get on with it.”
The club had previously released a statement to inform supporters that they would be working with the Scottish Government to understand the self-isolation procedures if Christie continued to return negative test results.
Clearly, not much progress has been made, leaving the club confused and disappointed.
Ultimately, authorities are simply enforcing the guidelines laid out to the wider general public.
If a contact tracing team determines someone was at risk of being exposed to the virus, self-isolating for 14 days is a must. That’s the most effective way to stop it spreading.
Despite the negative tests, it looks like Christie will miss the match against Rangers.
Christie has played in every Celtic match so far this season, with the vast majority of his appearances coming as a starter. He provides a significant goal threat, scoring three and assisting seven in 13 games.
The drama leaves Neil Lennon with difficult decisions to make on Saturday regarding his team shape and midfield.
Is it too soon to throw David Turnbull into a derby fixture? What does Christie’s absence mean for the 3-5-2 system?
The manager has plenty of quality options to choose from, so we must remain confident he can pick a winning eleven.
In other news, Callum McGregor says Leigh Griffiths is working hard every day in Celtic training.
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