Celtic have been dealt a blow to the preparations for next Saturday’s Glasgow derby as Ryan Christie has been ruled out of the game.
Christie has not tested positive for Covid-19, but Stuart Armstrong has and the duo and Kieran Tierney are currently self-isolating for 14 days from yesterday, BBC Sport reports.
The report describes Tierney and Christie as ‘close contacts’ of Armstrong, which is why they must isolate despite not being positive.
The news is a blow for Hoops as there is already a doubt over Odsonne Edouard’s participation in the game. He has tested positive for Covid-19. However, as reported by 67HH, he will be able to return on Scotland on October 16th, the day before the Glasgow derby, he has to self-isolate in France for 10 days first.
We always knew that there could be issues with the virus this season. However, they have come at a bad time for the Hoops. Not only is the derby only 10 days away, but many of the Celtic players are away on international duty.
That means they are not all together to get tested at Celtic Park. Still, Neil Lennon has had to deal with plenty of problems involving injuries before, this could be considered a particularly bizarre injury crisis.
Some fans call for internationals cancellation
Unsurprisingly, Celtic fans on social media were quick to comment on the Christie situation. More than a few said it was time for international football to be postponed at the moment, as the battle to get the pandemic goes on continues.
Only time will tell if that happens, although it has to be said that it looks unlikely at the moment. However, it is a real blow for Celtic that the Hoops could be without two first-team regulars for such an important match.
Difficulties could unite Hoops
Who knows, perhaps the difficulties the team faces will make the Hoops even stronger.
Here are some of the best reactions from Twitter to the news that Christie will miss the Glasgow derby:
In other news, Ian Maxwell is hopeful that fans will be back at Celtic Park within six months.
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