Martin O’Neill confirms Celtic suffered Arne Engels injury blow after Callum Osmand

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Martin O’Neill confirmed that Celtic’s injury problems are mounting after Arne Engels was also substituted alongside Callum Osmand.

Celtic were beaten 3-1 at Midtjylland on Thursday night to hand O’Neill his first defeat in his second spell as manager.

To add to the misery, youngster Osmand was stretchered off with a hamstring injury just days after scoring his first professional goal.

As well as providing an update on the 19-year-old, O’Neill confirmed that Engels had also picked up a knock.

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Martin O’Neill confirms Arne Engels injury blow

Engels was also substituted midway through the second half with the game already settled at 3-0.

At first it appeared to be tactical, but O’Neill revealed that the Belgian had been struggling with his hamstring and that the demands of the fixture list were playing a part in injuries.

The 73-year-old said: “I think he (Arne Engels) was feeling his hamstring as well, so the games are coming thick and fast for us, playing European football.

“So we just have to dust ourselves down, and get ourselves prepared mentally I should say and physically for Sunday.”

It seems unlikely that the Belgium international will recover in time to play against Kilmarnock on Sunday, which will allow for other options, such as Luke McCowan and Paulo Bernardo, to be given a chance.

Celtic’s full injury list

Engels joins a list of players sitting on the treatment table at Celtic right now.

There are long-term absentees like Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers who will be out for some time.

Additionally, the Hoops also have Alistair Johnston and Kelechi Iheanacho out, and now have two more joining in Osmand and Engels, leaving the Hoops with plenty of headaches.