Injury Update

Injuries are all part of the realities of managing a football club.

I rely on the club through official pressers and site write-ups for injury information. Clubs are not always open and transparent about such things.

So, health warning regarding injury data!

This season has not been particularly onerous thus far.

Celtic, on average, are missing just under four players per match. Slightly up on last season but nowhere near the 2018-19 peak under Brendan Rodgers of 6.63.

On average, each squad member (39 players have been named in match day squads), has missed 3.51 matches.

The longest total absences are Liel Abada 22 matches; Reo Hatate 21; Cameron Carter-Vickers 16; and Stephen Welsh 14 out of 35 fixtures.

The absences are felt more keenly when the team is not performing well. Also, the compounding nature of injury to key players such as Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston at the same time weakens what was one of the strongest parts of the team.

Kyogo Furuhashi has appeared in all 35 matches, whilst Joe Hart, Callum McGregor and Matt O’Riley have all missed just one match. Liam Scales has 32 appearances and Greg Taylor is the other to reach 30.

Care will be needed with McGregor and O’Riley in particular. The Dane has completed 90 minutes in 18 matches in a row. McGregor is one match and nine minutes shy of matching that record.

Risk layered upon risk.

Injuries are not an excuse this season so far, but reliance on a dwindling group of key individuals is.