Celtic face Rangers in just under a fortnight’s time.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been quoted by the Scottish Sun as saying that fleet-footed winger Patrick Roberts could return to the Hoops side ahead of their Old Firm derby against Rangers on March 11.
The former Liverpool and Swansea City manager spoke before Celtic’s impressive 2-0 win at Pittodrie against Aberdeen, thanks to goals from Moussa Dembele and Kieran Tierney either side of the half-time whistle.
Roberts has been dogged by a hamstring injury, while Rodgers also delivered updates on trio Stuart Armstrong, Marvin Compper and Leigh Griffiths.
Manchester City loanee Roberts is expected to return before March 11, but Rodgers failed to give a timescale on Celtic’s other three stars. He sounded particularly pessimistic about Scotland striker Griffiths.
“We think that Patrick Roberts should be back next week,” Rodgers said. “He played for 60 minutes for the Development Team on Friday so we’re hoping that he’ll be back in action this coming week.”
“Compper shouldn’t be too far away either and Stuart Armstrong over the next few weeks, he’ll not be too far away.
“Leigh Griffiths there is still doubt around the length of time that he’ll be out, he needs to feel no pain in his calf, obviously he’s had a lot of time not training. Some of them are nearly back but others are going to take more time.”
Both Compper and Griffiths have been sidelined with calf problems, while former Dundee United midfielder Armstrong is still recovering from a hernia operation that he underwent in January.
There will certainly be no sign of all four players on Wednesday night as the Hoops face Dundee at Celtic Park as they look to remain nine points clear of Rangers in first place with a win over Neil McCann’s side.
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