Brendan Rodgers has issued a stirring defence of Nir Bitton.
The Israeli internationalist has been pressed into playing in central defence over the last couple of games and came in for stick following his performance in the 4-3 defeat from Astana.
Bitton and Kristoffer Ajer had a very uncomfortable second half as Astana scored three goals in 25 minutes to put Celtic’s five goal first leg advantage came under threat.
With Jozo Simunovic joining Erik Sviatchenko and Dedryck Boyata on the sidelines Bitton cast aside a protective boot from an ankle injury to help see Celtic through to the group stage.
???? BR on Nir Bitton: “The criticism of Nir is incredible. This is a guy who is a central midfielder.”
— Celtic Football Club (@celticfc) August 25, 2017
???? BR: “After Kilmarnock his foot was in a boot, he couldn’t walk for two days.”
— Celtic Football Club (@celticfc) August 25, 2017
???? BR: “Up until our last Astana session he just took his boot off and went out to train. I have nothing but pure admiration for him.”
— Celtic Football Club (@celticfc) August 25, 2017
???? BR: “If we didn’t have Nir we might not have been in the #UCL. He filled in for us when we didn’t have players available.”
— Celtic Football Club (@celticfc) August 25, 2017
Boyata and Sviatchenko are still on the sidelines with new signing Rivaldo Coetzee still to complete a medical and obtain a work permit.
With the Paris St Germain due in town in two and a half weeks time it looks like Bitton could continue in defence unless a new defender is drafted in before the transfer window closes on Thursday.