Celtic are light on central-defensive options for tomorrow’s clash with Rosenborg.
John Hartson has told The Glasgow Evening Times that he fancies Celtic to sign a central defender this summer.
Jozo Simunovic’s red card in a previous round of Champions League qualifiers means that he is ineligible to face Rosenborg in tomorrow’s second-round clash, giving Brendan Rodgers has a dilemma.
With Marvin Compper also injured and Dedryck Boyata still on holidays after World Cup duties with Belgium, the Northern Irish manager, who now uses a system that includes three central defenders, only has Jack Hendry and Kristoffer Ajer fit.
Writing in The Record, former Celtic hitman Chris Sutton criticised Rodgers at the weekend for not bolstering his centre-back options, effectively leaving the Hoops vulnerable to this type of situation.
However, Hartson is sympathetic toward the former Liverpool manager and believes that he could not have predicted this level of depletion.
He told The Glasgow Evening Times: “I wouldn’t be too critical of Celtic for not having added another centre-half by now – I still think they will before the window closes – because I am not entirely sure that you can envisage the circumstances that have left them so short for this game against Rosenborg now.”
Mikael Lustig has returned to Lennoxtown after his extended break following World Cup duty with Sweden, and he could be an option for Rodgers.
However, the 31-year-old right-back hasn’t played in over 20 days, so it remains to be seen whether he will be risked, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
