Celtic's Araujo: A Key Player in Recent Matches

Celtic suffer fresh injury blow

Three weeks after Celtic’s Scottish Cup win at Ibrox worrying news has emerged about Julian Araujo.

Before joining Celtic on January 2 the Mexican had only played in one match for Bournemouth.

Wilfried Nancy gave Araujo a 25 minute run out off the bench in the Glasgow Derby on January 3.

That matched proved to be the final one of Nancy’s 33 days at Celtic but he did leave a parting gift.

Since the turn of the year Araujo has been one of Celtic’s most influential players.

Starting in 12 matches between January 10 and March 8 the Mexican took to Celtic like a duck to water.

ARAUJO AND CELTIC- THE PERFECT MATCH?

In contrast to many loan signings that just don’t take to the unique challenge of winning every match Araujo thrived on it.

Celtic seemed afar better match for the Mexican’s mentality but it looks like his brief Celtic career may be over.

In the Celtic Way Stephen McGowan reports:

CELTIC loan right-back Julian Araujo has been ruled for seven to eight weeks by injury.

The Mexico international returned to parent club Bournemouth for treatment to a thigh issue after missing the recent Premiership games against Motherwell and Dundee United.

The south coast club have now diagnosed a quad strain expected to rule the Mexican defender out until early May.

With that in mind it looks like Tony Ralston could be back in the Starting XI away to Dundee a week today.

Despite resuming training and being on international duty Alistair Johnston is still a few weeks away from a playing return.

The Canadian has the first post split fixture on April 25/26 as his unofficial return target.

With Araujo out injured Colby Donovan started the matches against Motherwell and Dundee United.

A knee injury at Tannadice forced Donovan out of the Scotland u-21 squad with no further word from Celtic on the extent of that injury.

With seven SPFL Premiership matches to be played it could be that the experience of Ralston is needed until Johnston is fully recovered from his hamstring injury.

Celtic fans will be looking out for news on Arne Engels who could be back in contention for the match with Dundee.

Engels suffered a thigh injury in the win over Livingston on February 11, the fixture when AlexOxlade-Chamberlain made a match winning debut.