Celtic's Injury Concerns Ahead of Old Firm Derby with Rangers

Celtic will wait on late fitness calls before Sunday’s Old Firm showdown with Rangers after their Europa League setback on Thursday night.

Manager Martin O'Neill confirmed his players were put through a recovery session on Friday in the wake of the defeat at Celtic Park, with several key figures nursing knocks from the game.

“The players are just a bit of a warm-down today, the lads who played most of the game, so we'll see how they are,” O’Neill said as he looked ahead to the derby. “There's one or two lads who came off; we'll have a look to see how they are tomorrow.”

Those who logged the heaviest minutes were restricted to light work while the medical team began assessing the damage. Only after those checks will O’Neill know whether any of the problems are serious enough to affect his team selection.

The concern centres on “one or two” who were forced off before the final whistle on Thursday, leaving the manager facing an anxious wait with Rangers due at Celtic Park in just days.

Celtic have little time to reset. They must shake off European disappointment and a bruising injury list before hosting Rangers in the Premiership on Sunday, in what will be the second Old Firm derby of the season.

Medical assessments over the next 48 hours will shape O’Neill’s options for a fixture already carrying extra weight after last weekend’s 3-0 defeat to Rangers.