Brendan Rodgers has explained that Cameron Carter-Vickers absence from the win over St Mirren was part of his game plan.
The defender underwent knee surgery last season then suffered a hamstring injury in the second match of the season, being substituted at half-time away to Aberdeen.
After coming on as a substitute at home to Lazio Carter-Vickers started four matches on the bounce, including three in seven days, before being replaced by Nat Phillips last night.
Listening in to Rodgers discussing the former Spurs defender with Radio Scotland before the match, Glasgow World reports the Celtic boss saying:
It was the game plan to bring him out. He’s still working on his knee and some of the issues around that. He’s played a lot of games in a small period so this is a chance for him to recover and be ready for the weekend and beyond that.
Phillips didn’t look as composed on the ball as Carter-Vickers with Liam Scales on his own in the centre of the defence when Conor McMenamin headed in the opener for St Mirren.
On Saturday Celtic take on Ross County before facing Atletico Madrid in the Champions League to complete another run of three matches in seven days.
Stephen Welsh is back in full training with Maik Nawrocki named among the substitutes last night.
It’s good news ccv isn’t injured…..on another matter the Kyogo booking against st mirren… Remember a grade 1 referee watched that using all the VAR technology and did nothing…as Hugh Dallas has said VAR should only get involved when there’s a clear and obvious “ERROR” I think booking a player “Kyogo” falls into that category…. and to quote Hugh Dallas “again” this time describing why it’s “NOT” obstruction when a player ushers the ball out “never” having touched it……..Hugh Dallas said….as long as the ball is within touching distance the player is deemed to have it under control….no obstruction given…. CELTIC should appeal “NOT” the yellow card because they can’t… but that VAR did not pick up…as Hugh Dallas told us a clear and obvious error was made….. I’ve said this before…if the punishment for cheating is “No” punishment why stop cheating