Glasgow Derby Squad Update: Two Stars Ruled Out, Maeda & Kuhn Set to Feature
The long-term absence of Jota is the main story. Due to a catastrophic knee injury he sustained during last weekend’s title-sealing victory over Dundee United, the Portuguese winger will be out for six to nine months. As Celtic prepares for a Scottish Cup final and another European campaign, it is a devastating blow for both the player and the squad.
Positively, it is anticipated that Nicolas Kuhn and Daizen Maeda will both be healthy for the match versus Rangers. Despite missing Friday’s training, the two are expected to be part of the matchday squad.
Alistair Johnston’s exclusion from the derby, meanwhile, is a blow on the defensive end. In order for the Canadian to be totally fit for the May Scottish Cup final at Hampden, Rodgers has stated that he is being closely monitored.
“We’ve got a few knocks, so obviously Jota will be out and sadly for us and for him he’ll be out for a period of time, probably six to nine months,” Brendan Rodgers told CelticsAreHere. It’s the cruitiate, of course, and it was actually worse than we had anticipated. He therefore begins his road to recovery from that right now, though it will take six to nine months.
“Ali Johnson will not be accessible.” To make sure he was prepared for the cup final, Ali has been in need of an injection into his hip for a while. In order to give him enough time, we agreed to do so following the Dundee United match. So it puts him out of the game at the weekend and most probably the Southampton game and that allows him a few weeks thereafter to be ready and available for the cup final.
Dane Murray, who will be ready for preseason after missing the remainder of the season due to a knee injury. Who else are we missing? Yang has returned. Yang is back training with the team so we’ll give him one more day tomorrow and then we’ll see whether he’s going to be available for the squad.
“Yes, Daizen should be fine and Nicolas was out. We’re simply analyzing him and a small concern with his knee but he should be okay. We got that scanned, and although there is some minor bruising, he should be fine.
Yang Hyun-jun, meanwhile, rejoins the team following his recovery from a knock that left him in a sling a few weeks prior.
With 2,000 away fans supporting the recently crowned champions in Govan, Celtic will go to Ibrox in search of their first derby victory of 2025.
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