Erik Sviatchenko has handed Celtic a timely boost by cutting a month off of his recovery from injury.
The defender was injured in the Champions League qualifier away to Rosenborg in August leaving Brendan Rodgers with limited defensive options.
Sviatchenko, Jozo Simunovic and Dedryck Boyata haven’t been available at the same time this season with only the Belgian available for Saturday’s clash with Dundee.
A year ago Sviatchenko appeared to be the first choice central defender with the 26-year-old ready to relaunch his claim for a first team place.
“It’s been a tough two months, but it was scheduled to be three and it’s been a good, straightforward recovery, so much thanks goes to the medical staff for bringing me to the stage where it’s just about kicking on and being clever and wise,” the Evening Times reported the defender saying.
“It has been frustrating to be left out with an injury, especially with the timing. It happened against Rosenborg away and I had just come back from a minor injury. I was back in the squad and trusted to play in a big game.
“I started well and then after 25 minutes I was injured. It’s a difficult moment for you as a footballer but you must accept that some things are just the way they are. Football is a game where you can be injured and when you are left on the sidelines then of course you are frustrated.
“You just need to put a new code on yourself and remember it’s just for a period and if you work hard and do your things well you will be back playing again.”
Rodgers’ defensive problems looked to be clearing up when Boyata and Simunovic played together against Sevco and Anderlecht without losing a goal.
Unfortunately Simunovic was missing for the home match with Hibs and was forced to pull out of the Bosnian international squad.
Celtic have still to comment on that injury with the Bosnian’s claiming he had a four centimetre hamstring tear with other reports suggesting that the player expected to play next week against Bayern Munich.