Stefan Johansen has revealed the full extent of the injury that forced him to miss Celtic’s win over Hamilton Accies on Sunday.
The midfielder hobbled off the pitch against Fenerbahce on Thursday night feeling under the weather then found himself unable to move his HEAD on Sunday morning.
Johansen is hopeful of being fit to face Malta in Saturday’s Euro 2016 qualifier but told Norwegian website Dagbladet the extent of his weekend injury.
“Right now I’m feeling better and should be ready for Malta but since the Fenerbahce match I’ve had a stiff neck,” the midfielder said.
“Afterwards my neck stiffened up then it it effected my throat, it’s progressing now but on Saturday morning I could hardly move my head.”
Looking at Celtic’s season to date he admitted: “If we are behind in the league it quickly becomes a crisis, we also ended up drawing after being ahead in two Europa League matches.
“That’s the way it is at Celtic, the greatest pressure comes from the media but within the squad we don’t let that effect us.”
Johansen plays as a holding midfielder for Norway but may be pushed into a more attacking role as they look for the goals to see off Malta before the final qualifying tie on Tuesday away to Italy.
Norway are currently two points ahead of Croatia and two behind Italy with the goal-less draw at home to Azerbaijan in June providing a major set-back.
Croatia host Bulgaria on Saturday before completing their campaign away to Malta while Italy travel to Azerbaijan before meeting Norway in Rome.
With the top two gaining automatic qualification for France the Norwegians are assured of at least a play off spot while a win over Malta could give them a qualifying place as the best placed team to finish in third place.
In Group G Mikael Lustig is expected to make his second appearance of the campaign when Sweden travel to Lichtenstein on Friday with the Swedes trailing Russia by two points in third place.