Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers hopes that the international break would provide his injured defenders some much-needed healing time.
Key center-half Cameron Carter-Vickers has missed four matches due to a toe injury, but is expected to return for the Premiership’s top-of-the-table showdown with Aberdeen on October 19. Greg Taylor, a left-back, also missed Sunday’s 2-1 win over Ross County due to a calf injury and will miss Scotland’s Nations League doubleheader against Croatia and Portugal. Alistair Johnston, a right-back, scored and assisted at Dingwall but will not return to Canada for a friendly against Panama due to a back injury.
“Ali won’t go with the international team, so that gives us a chance to recover him, because he’s been working very well,” Rodgers replied. “Cam will join training later this week.
Greg, we’ll have to wait and see. However, I think young Alex Valle performed well (against Ross County). His positioning improved slightly, especially in the second half. But Greg, we hope he returns, if not for Aberdeen, then soon after.”
Celtic will play a friendly against Sligo Rovers in the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday before hosting the Dons. “I’ll be there,” Rodgers announced. “I will take the team. That plan was in place several months ago.
“Obviously, we’ll have to recover some guys. However, a significant proportion of players will require games. So there will be a mix of our first-team players in the group.
