Celts win but injury crisis deepens

CELTIC manager Gordon Strachan revealed he now has a full team of players missing through injury after Shaun Maloney limped off during the 2-0 win over Motherwell at Parkhead on Saturday.

Before the visit of the Lanarkshire side, Jean-Joel Perrier Doumbe, Chris Killen, Georgios Samaras, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Marc Crosas, Glenn Loovens, Aiden McGeady, and Artur Boruc — set for a knee operation today — were all out through injury with only Samaras on his way back in the short term.

To add to Strachan’s woes, Shunsuke Nakamura was a late call-off after he was sent for a scan on his knee injury and youngster Paul McGowan was also ruled out.

And while they are struggling in the Champions League, Celtic remain top of the Premier League after goals from Paul Hartley and Scott McDonald eased them to victory over the Fir Park side, who were reduced to 10 men when David Clarkson was red-carded after appearing to push Hoops substitute Paul Caddis in the face.

Afterwards, Strachan surveyed the latest additions to his injury list.

He said: “Shaun had a dead leg. We tried to keep him jogging about at half-time but he couldn’t get going in the second half.

“Nakamura injured himself on Thursday. He wanted to give it a go on Friday at training but the doctor sent him away for a scan and it’s not good news.

“It’s his knee and he will be missing for a couple of weeks. We are up to a full team of injuries now but the rest of us will just get on with it.”

Meanwhile, Rangers manager Walter Smith will resist any temptation to rush Barry Ferguson back into his team even if Kevin Thomson faces a lengthy absence through injury.

Thomson left the pitch on a stretcher following a challenge with David Fernandez late on in Rangers’ 4-0 win at Kilmarnock yesterday

Second-half goals from David Weir, Kris Boyd, Kenny Miller and Steven Whittaker secured the win for Gers but the win was tainted by Thomson’s injury, one which might pave the way for Ferguson’s return and spare Smith a major selection headache.

Rangers captain Ferguson has now made three substitute appearances since recovering from ankle surgery but Smith is unwilling to take any risks with his talisman’s fitness.

“Barry will come back into the team when he is ready,” said Smith. “We will be careful with him to make sure that he’s ready. It doesn’t take away any dilemma for me.”

Elsewhere on Saturday, Dundee United defeated Aberdeen 2-1 at Tannadice, Inverness claimed a 2-1 win at Hibernian, Hearts beat St Mirren 1-0 while Irish youngster James McCarthy grabbed a goal in Hamilton’s 1-1 draw with Falkirk.