Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that defensive powerhouse Filip Benkovic is a huge doubt for the club’s clash against Livingstone on Sunday.
The Leicester City loanee has been a regular mainstay for the Hoops in recent weeks, starting their last four league games as well as their Europa League win over RB Leipzig on Thursday evening.
However, Rodgers has revealed that there are problems affecting the 21-year-old enforcer after the home victory against the Germans and that he is frustrated that the club have suffered another setback at the centre of the defence.
He told the Evening Times: “(Benkovic is a) big question mark. Of course it is frustrating.”
Opinion
Celtic have been plagued by injuries in the defence this season and the last thing they would want is to see Benkovic on the sidelines once again after his problems early in the campaign. He has established himself as a mainstay for Rodgers, forming a formidable partnership with Dedryck Boyata at the heart of the back line and so to lose him is a big blow. Still, no matter who comes in the Bhoys should have enough quality to sink Livingston on Sunday and with a two week international break on the immediate horizon there is the chance for the defender to rest up and make sure he fully recovers from whatever is affecting him. There are certainly worse times for problems to strike and having helped his side to a crucial victory in Europe in midweek, Benkovic is deserving of a rest – even if that is enforced by injury or illness.