GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 02: Celtic's Arne Engels and Aberdeen's Luis Lopes in action during a Premier Sports Cup semi-final match between Celtic and Aberdeen at Hampden Park, on November 02, 2024, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Roddy Scott/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Despite an appearance in Friday’s training ground picture galleries Arne Engels isn’t on the brink of a return to first team action.
The midfielder suffered a thigh muscle injury against Livingston on February 11 with a4-6 week absence suggested at the time.
On Sunday Engels joined some of Celtic’s other walking wounded at Ibrox as Martin O’Neill’s side pulled off a famous Scottish Cup victory.
ENGELS MISSES OUT
With Callum McGregor missing the Ibrox match through injury Celtic were without two midfield regulars.
O’Neill had to dig deep into his squad with Alex Oxlaid-Chamberlain and Paolo Bernardo on the pitch at the end of the extra time.
McGregor could be back from a calf injury next Sunday at Dundee United but he won’t be joined by Engels.
Asked about Engels, the Herald reports O’Neill saying:
He’s [Engels] doing fine. He’s here at this minute, but he’s going back. I think there’s a place there, back in Belgium, that he can go to.
He’s had a few days at home as well. I think there was a day during the course of the free week we have, instead of him going back on Thursday, I’ve allowed him to go back on Tuesday.
He will be doing work there, hopefully not just lazing around at home. He should be back, he really should be back after the international break.
After today’s match Celtic face two trips to Tayside split by an international break.
On March 22 the hoops are at Tannadice, two weeks later they are across the road at Dens Park. Two venues that they lost at earlier this season.
Kieran Tierney is available for today’s match against Motherwell but it is slow progress with Celtic’s lengthy injury list.
Having McGregor back at Tannadice and Engels for the match at Dundee will provide a welcome boost as the business end of the season kicks in.
Alistair Johnston and Callum Osmand are expected to be available for the post split fixtures which start on April 25/26.
Oxlaid-Chamerlain is likely to be heavily involved today, he made a scoring debut against Livingston in the match that Engels was injured in.
Kasper Schmeichel can be added to the injured list. Yesterday he revealed that his shoulder condition requires 4-6 weeks of complete rest.
Celtic are well covered in that area with Vil Sinisalo in top form over the last four matches.
Back to the CCTV from last weekends SHENANIGANS at the BIGOT DOME,apparently sevco use the same CCTV as was used when
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