Scott Brown suffered a third minute head cut as Celtic lost 1-0 to PSV Eindhoven in Gran Canaria today.
The Celtic skipper was taken to a local hospital for treatment to the injury but is likely to be available for Saturday’s visit to Hamilton Accies.
On the park a first half shot from Memphis Depay separated the sides with Ronny Deila taking the opportunity to give a number of his academy prospects a run out in the second half.
After the artificial pitch at Kilmarnock on Monday the fiery surface in Gran Canaria made things difficult for both side in the opening match of the Maspalomas Cup.
John Guidetti was given one of the three attacking midfield roles but wasn’t able to provide Stefan Scepovic with much in the way of support.
In the third minute Brown suffered a deep cut to his forehead in an innocent looking challenge with Aleksandar Tonev coming on to replace the skipper.
Before Tonev had got on the park the hoops goal had a lucky escape as a PSV Eindhoven striker shot into Lucasz Zaluska’s arms from close range after Virgil van Dijk was caught out by the ball bouncing off the corner flag!
The introduction of Tonev saw a switch in the Celtic side with Henderson moving into a more central role with the on-loan Bulgarian playing on the left ahead of Emilio Izaguirre.
Celtic’s first chance of the day fell to Stefan Scepovic in the 15th minute when he met a great cross from Izaguirre but the PSV keeper clawed the ball away onto the post and to safety.
Seven minutes later Zaluska was happy to see a 22 yard free kick from Memphis Depay flash across goal and wide of his right hand post but in the 32nd minute Depay put the Dutch side in front.
A cross from the left was headed on by Virgil van Dijk but fell perfectly for Depay who cushioned the ball on his chest before cracking a shot from 15 yards out into the net.
PSV had a couple of chances later on in the half but Zaluska was in form to keep the Dutch side at bay.
Ronny Deila resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes at the break waiting until the hour mark for Leigh Griffiths to replace Scepovic.
In the 70th minute Callum McGregor had a double chance but the PSV keeper was equal to the task with McGregor replaced soon after by Aidan Nesbitt..
CELTIC: Zaluska; Fisher, Ambrose, van Dijk, Izaguirre; Brown (Tonev 5), Bitton (Lindsay 81); McGregor (Nesbitt 72), Guidetti (Thomson 74), Henderson; Scepovic (Griffiths).
SUBS: Fasan, O’Connell, Waters, McMullan
PSV: 22 PASVEER, 2 ISIMAT-MIRIN, 7 DEPAY, 14 JOZEFZOON, 17 LOCADIA, 18 GUARDADO, 20 BRENET, 23 VLOET, 24 RITZMAIER, 25 KOCH, 47 PAAL
