UTV Sport - Celtic worry over player fitness

Subscribe to the Sport Feed Sportback to Sport

Celtic worry over player fitness

Text Size:  A  A |  POST A COMMENT |  PRINT |  SHARE 
Celtic''s Robbie Keane is a doubt for Celtic's next fixture after coming off in the defeat to Rangers
Tony Mowbray is hoping the international break will help his players recover from their crushing defeat by Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday.

Maurice Edu's winner with seconds remaining of injury time took the Light Blues 10 points clear of Celtic at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League with a game in hand.

The Hoops boss will be without several players who are away with their respective countries this week.

Asked if the late defeat in Govan would deflate his players, Mowbray replied: "I don't think so.

"A lot of the players are away on international duty, we won't see them until Friday.

"They will have a different feel to their week and hopeful they will come back ready to go again.

"They have to get back on to their horse and go and win next week at Falkirk.

"We can't affect Rangers' results apart from when we play them at Celtic Park but let's wait and see what happens between now and then."

While Keane must be considered a doubt for the game against the Bairns, Mowbray will have to reshuffle his defence again following the hamstring injury that Old Firm debutant Thomas Rogne picked up in the first half at Ibrox.

The Norwegian teenager joins a list of Parkhead crocks which also includes stoppers Glenn Loovens and Jos Hooiveld who are both recovering from the same injury.

Mowbray, though, is expecting big things from Rogne in the future.

"He had all week to prepare for the Old Firm game but to be fair to him he did his job very well," the former Hoops defender said.

"He was aware of the dangers Rangers possessed and I thought he stood his ground well and showed what a quality player he is going to be for our football team."

Rogne is hoping for better luck the next time the two teams meet.

"I really thought that the chance to start the game against Rangers could have been a great opportunity for me," he told the Evening Times.

"To get injured was a massive blow but for the time that I was on the park, the game lived up to all my expectations.

"Even when the ball was out for a throw-in, the fans were up on their feet.

"It was special to play in, but I want to do it again and this time hopefully be on the end of a better result."

© Press Association

Send to a friend

Email To
Your Name
Comment
Close
Comments
0 Comments
Be the first to comment
Post a comment
Name:
Email Address:
Location:
Your Comment:
Verification Code: Captcha Code  Get New Code
POST COMMENT
[Before posting, please take a moment to familiarise yourself with our house rules. All comments are moderated and will not appear immediately. Any information you enter, including email and web addresses, will be displayed on our site if passed by our moderators.]