Celtic’s team news for the match against Hibs could be decided by Government Track and Trace experts.
Yesterday afternoon the club announced on Twitter that one player had returned a positive test following the six day trip to Dubai.
Celtic were allowed to make the trip as a group of elite athletes but last night the Scottish Government made their feelings known on Dubai by adding it to the Quarantine List and backdating the decision to January 3.
Various protocols will now come into place with everyone involved in the trip quizzed about their contacts.
Earlier this season Ryan Christie was forced into self-isolation following a Scotland get together despite the claims of the player and Celtic that he had followed protocols. From similar circumstances Kieran Tierney was able to train and play for Arsenal.
Neil Lennon faces a tough task putting together a winning team for tonight’s match but now has added complications with tonight’s 6.30pm team announcement eagerly awaited.
In today’s Daily Record Keith Jackson explains:
Celtic are exhausting the patience of their own supporters, one or two of whom will already be thinking twice about handing over their hard-earned cash when the time comes around to season-ticket renewals.
So Sunday’s news of a positive test has just slammed the tin lid on a disastrous decision and its little wonder there were many nervous conversations taking place last night as the potential consequences of this monumental misstep were being discussed.
If Lennon has to do without just one of his players for tonight’s visit from Hibs then he’ll probably consider himself fortunate.
But if track and trace experts decide that more of his travelling party are also required to self-isolate then it would be perfectly in keeping with a season which has raged between complete chaos and full-blown crises.
Other than one tweet yesterday Celtic haven’t made any comment on the positive test.
