James McCarthy will be back in the Celtic squad to face Ross County tomorrow but James Forrest will again be missing.
Both players last featured in the home win over AZ Alkmaar on August 18 with Ange Postecoglou describing their injuries as routine knocks.
McCarthy has only managed two 15 minute substitute appearances since joining Celtic in the summer, if back to full fitness he should become a major player in midfield as Postecoglou puts his stamp on the side.
Forrest was heavily involved in the second goal against AZ Alkmaar but has still to put together a consistent run of games after being out of action for five months last season.
Following the international break Postecoglou only had today to work with his full squad. With players in various states of fitness tomorrow’s side will be a work in progress but having McCarthy and Forrest in place for the Europa League tie against Real Betis will provide depth and experience as the standard of opponent moves up a few levels.
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Asked about the availability of McCarthy and Forrest, the Celtic boss said:
McCarthy, yes, he has trained well this week and is available. James Forrest, probably not tomorrow, training, I think that we’ll probably give him a few more days.
Asked to clarify the injuries he added:
Just minor knocks both of them, James (Forrest) copped it in the game, I can’t remember who it was (Alkmaar home), the last game that he played and the same with McCarthy, just minor things.
To be fair both of them have had disrupted pre-seasons. James (Forrest) came in a bit later and the same with James McCarthy. We are just, probably being a bit cautious with them, both look like, certainly McCarthy looks ready to go and I don’t think that Forrest is too far away
No questions were asked about the fitness of Greg Taylor who injured a shoulder away to AZ Alkmaar forcing him to miss the Glasgow derby and pull out of the Scotland squad.
