There were mixed messages coming out of Celtic Park yesterday on the fitness of James McCarthy.
Starting his third match in eight days the midfielder was substituted at half-time with Ismaila Soro coming on in his place.
McCarthy was involved in a couple of crunching first half challenges as he battles his way back to fitness after two seasons in and out of the Crystal Palace team.
The Sun reports Postecoglou saying:
James had been in a fair tackle and was feeling the effects of that knock.
Radio Clyde’s match reporter took things slightly differently.
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou says Juranovic will have a scan on a hamstring injury. Giakoumakis should return to training this week & could be fit for Aberdeen. McCarthy was taken off as a precaution.
— Alison Conroy (@AlisonGConroy) September 26, 2021
Such is the state of injuries within the Celtic squad that every first team player available is a contender to start matches.
Three games over eight days probably wasn’t in the plan for McCarthy after his selected use before starting the match away to Livingston.
With Bayer Leverkusen to face on Thursday Postecoglou will have to nurse his squad through the next few days hoping that no more injuries are picked up.
Owen Moffat was promoted onto the bench for yesterday’s match against Dundee United with a couple of other players from the B team likely to be on the bench for Thursday’s Europa League tie.