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John Kennedy suffers new international injury blow

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Nir Bitton is returning early from the international break after tearing a groin muscle.

The 29-year-old was recently unavailable for more than a month after injuring an ankle and made the Celtic bench for last week’s Glasgow Derby.

Bitton flew out to join up with the Israeli national squad but after missing last night’s home defeat from Denmark The Sun reports:

CELTIC star Nir Bitton won’t play against Scotland on Sunday after tearing a groin muscle and being sent home from the Israel squad in his latest injury nightmare.

The Hoops ace was surprisingly called-up for Israel despite not featuring for Celtic since the end of January after suffering an ankle ligament injury, although he was an unused sub in the Old Firm draw last weekend.

And Celtic are unlikely to be amused at discovering he’s suffered a new setback in training for his country and is on his way back to Glasgow.

The Israeli FA said: “Nir Bitton was injured in the concluding training session and was not included in the squad against Denmark. He has suffered a small tear in his groin, was released from the squad and will not play against Scotland and Moldova.”

Bitton’s injury leaves Celtic with just Shane Duffy as cover for Kris Ajer and Stephen Welsh who have established themselves as the first choice central defensive pairing over the last two months.

Ajer and Duffy are also away on international duty but Welsh can prepare for next Saturday’s match at home to Falkirk without distractions.

Ryan Christie was the only Celtic player to start Scotland’s 2-2 draw against Austria. In the 78th minute Callum McGregor replaced Lyndon Dykes with Greg Taylor failing to make the bench.

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