Celtic host Astana on Wednesday in a key Champions League qualifier.
Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths has said via The Glasgow Evening Times that defender Kolo Toure is old and wise enough to know whether he can face Astana in Wednesday’s key Champions League qualifier at Parkhead.
The 35-year-old centre-back missed last Tuesday’s 1-1 first-leg draw in Kazakhstan as he continues to improve his fitness after joining the Hoops on a Bosman last month.
Worryingly, manager Brendan Rodgers, who worked with the veteran Ivorian at Liverpool, might have to throw the former Arsenal man into the mix tomorrow due to limited options in defence.
Erik Sviatchenko, Dedryck Boyata and Dedryck Boyata are ruled out, while Efe Ambrose might be low on confidence after Celtic fans booed him following his own goal during Saturday’s 3-1 friendly defeat by Barcelona in Dublin.
Indeed, Rodgers may be forced to turn to the semi-fit Toure, but Griffiths, who scored in Kazakhstan last week, believes the ex-Ivory Coast international will make his own decision regarding fitness.
“Kolo has played at the very top level and he knows what is required,” said Griffiths to The Glasgow Evening Times.
“He will know in himself whether he feels as though he can come straight on and do the job.
“He is experienced. He has played in European cup finals and he will know his own body. I am sure that the manager will speak to him to see what he thinks.”
Losing to Astana is almost unthinkable for the Hoops tomorrow and it would be a rotten start to Rodgers’s reign at Paradise.
He is very much expected to steer Celtic into the group stages, and falling at the penultimate hurdle would be a huge blow to the club and its fanbase.
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