Fear of losing Filip Benkovic back to Leicester City has been a massive concern since a release clause was revealed in his loan deal but now the defender could be out for the rest of the season through injury.
At yesterday’s media conference Brendan Rodgers admitted to the defender suffering a knock and being a doubt for the St Johnstone match.
This morning The Sun reports:
He played the full game at Celtic Park and the extent of the leg problem only emerged after the final whistle.
If the defender is out of action for any length of time it could force Celtic into a major rethink in the closing days of the transfer window.
Benkovic has undoubtedly been the star turn in the Celtic defence with things coming together once he established his partnership in central defence.
Earlier in the season he was a late call off on the plastic surface at Rugby Park but returned to action and started all nine fixtures during December.
At Ibrox he was replaced before half time by Kris Ajer who was himself returning from a fractured eye socket. With Benkovic and Boyata missing Ajer will now be required to reform his partnership with Jozo Simunovic.
Nir Bitton is an option for cover in that position as is teenager Stephen Welsh but if there are any long term fears over Benkovic Celtic will be expected to go in strongly to the transfer market.
