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Injuries Hit As Celtic Look To Build On Fantastic Start

Discussion in 'News' started by TC News, Sep 28, 2022.

Discuss Injuries Hit As Celtic Look To Build On Fantastic Start in the News area at TalkCeltic.net.

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    Injuries Hit As Celtic Look To Build On Fantastic Start

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    It very much looks like Celtic and former Australian manager, Ange Postecoglou, have started off exactly from where they left off in the last campaign. The 2022/23 season was always going to be one full of disruptions as the domestic league not only have to endure the usual international breaks, but we also have the bizarre winter World Cup out in Qatar to contend with - but seven games into the Scottish Premiership and Celtic find themselves top again, clear of Rangers by two points as I write.

    With six wins from the opening seven matches, Postecoglou will be pleased with how his side have hit the ground running and with a fantastic +22 goal difference already, the 57-year-old's first team charges are firing and performing well at both ends of the football pitch. For the stattos, this is Celtic's best scoring return at this stage of the season since way back in 1966/67 where we had totted up 26 goals and for any Casino Hawks in the fan base you would probably get good odds on that goalscoring run continuing given our upcoming opposition.

    However, there may be slight trouble ahead following on from the recent September international break as we now have doubts about four players. With a packed schedule already, September's break was always going to cause a headache or two as we now go into a run of 13 straight games (only six weeks) before the illogical World Cup shutdown comes into play.

    With Motherwell next on the horizon this weekend, Giorgos Giakoumakis is a significant doubt for the game as he missed Greece's Nations League games against Cyprus and Northern Ireland with an unexplained leg problem. Manager Gus Poyet explained.

    "He had a small problem and we couldn't risk him. I think it's not going to be long out, but I don't think he will play at the weekend in Scotland."

    Japanese forward Daizen Maeda was substituted at half time in their friendly against the USA having picked up a thigh problem, and he did not feature for them in the following game against Ecuador.

    Winger Sead Haksabanovic only lasted 32 minutes before leaving the pitch in Montenegro's defeat to Finland on Monday, and David Turnbull had obviously withdrew from Steve Clarke's Scotland squad after the ankle knock he picked up in the very disappointing defeat to St Mirren ahead of the break.

    Although these injuries do not appear to be too long term a problem for Postecoglou, it is not the perfect preparation for Motherwell as we will want to show a strong and significant reaction to the 2-0 St Mirren loss. There should still be more than enough in the squad overall, given the options we do have available, to do just that though given how tight our defence has been, and the goalscoring form we have been in, added to the impressive creative streak Matt O'Riley is currently in.

    So a quick return to winning ways should quieten the speculation doing the rounds about the gaffer for a bit with supposed interest in him from English clubs, namely Brighton and Hove Albion and Leicester City in recent weeks, as the full focus should be on 13 more wins before domestic football hangs its boots up for a couple of weeks.