Elhamed gives teasing injury update

Hatem Abd Elhamed has hinted that he is about to return to first team action.

The defender suffered a groin strain late on during Celtic’s Europa League win away to Lazio on November 7 and has been side-lined ever since.

Jeremie Frimpong has made a massive impact at right-back but with a run of five matches in 15 days coming up the return of Elhamed would give Neil Lennon some welcome options in defence.

Elhamed adapted instantly into the Celtic side when he switched from Hapoel Be’er Sheva in July, filling the position vacated by Mikael Lustig.

When Celtic won at Ibrox at the start of September the 28-year-old demonstrated his versatility when he started out at right-back then switched into central defence when Nir Bitton went off injured.

Moritz Bauer played at right-back on Thursday against Cluj, Frimpong’s suspension for his red card in the League Cup Final will apply to the first match of next season’s competition.