Stade Rennais manager Julien Stephan has provided supporters with an update on striker Mbaye Niang.
The former AC Milan hitman missed the club’s Ligue 1 draw with Brest at the weekend with a knock. Niang is already off the mark this season with two goals in four games for Rennes. One of those was against PSG too.
However, his injury knock has naturally made him a doubt for the Celtic clash on Thursday night. It will certainly be a marginally easier night for the Hoops if the big forward is sidelined.
And Stephan, speaking to Ouest France last night, stated that he’s taking his star-man’s fitness levels day-by-day. He also stated that he won’t have a definitive answer until closer to the game.
“For him, we continue to see from day to day. We will monitor how it evolves in the next 48 or 72 hours to know if he can resume collective training, or not.”
Who could we be up against if Niang is injured?
It seems extremely doubtful that Niang will be fit for Thursday. Considering he hasn’t trained since his knock, it would certainly be a bit of a surprise if he tossed him in.
However, if he does miss out, just who could Christopher Jullien and Kristoffer Ajer be up against?
The biggest threat by far is Raphinha, the new €20m signing from Sporting Lisbon (Goal). A lot of pressure seems to have been put on him for inspiration. So far, he’s bagged two goals in his six Rennes outings so. However, he’s not an out-and-out goalscorer.
During his time in Portugal with Lisbon, he managed just nine goals in 41 appearances. Before that, he nabbed 22 in 84 outings for Vitoria Guimaraes. His goalscoring record isn’t phenomenal, but he clearly has a creative spark to warrant that kind of fee.
Could it be Siebatcheu?
Celtic could also be up against young forward Theoson Siebatcheu. The United States-born French under-21 star signed for the Ligue 1 side last summer.
Promisingly, he’s failed to find the net in any of his five outings so far this season. Last term, his first season with the club, he managed only seven goals and one assist in his 23 appearances. His goal-return isn’t the best, but it would be foolish to dismiss him. His past clubs include Reims and Chateauroux, where he scored 21 and 11 goals respectively.
So it’s clear to see why Niang being out could prove to be a problem for Rennes on Thursday night. His replacements aren’t consistent goalscorers by any stretch of the imagination.
However, Celtic will be wary of everything Rennes have to offer. But, hopefully, Niang just misses out in any case.
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