Brendan Rodgers has explained Filip Benkovic’s late call off for Celtic’s defeat at Kilmarnock.
The on-loan defender was outstanding against Rosenborg playing alongside Dedryck Boyata and was named in the starting XI 75 minutes before kick off at Rugby Park.
When Scott Brown led the side out to kick off Jack Hendry had replaced Benkovic in defence with the hoops crashing to a 2-1 defeat to end the day sixth in the SPFL table.
“He had an issue with his Achilles eight months ago,” Rodgers explained to the Daily Record. “On the surface he felt it tighten so he wasn’t fit to play.
“We will have to see how that is. Hopefully it’s not too bad. From being injured before he perhaps felt the same sensation and rightly didn’t want to risk it. He will have a scan and we will see where we are at.”
Jozo Simunovic could come back into contention for Wednesday’s return to grass when Celtic face St Johnstone in the Betfred Cup.
Kris Ajer has missed the last two matches through injury and will be assessed at Lennoxtown today.
No fresh injuries were reported from the plastic pitch at Rugby Park which was about the only consolation that Rodgers could take from the defeat in Ayrshire.