Celtic set to face Dundee United without five first-team players

Published on Wednesday 18 November 2009 14:25

CELTIC could be without five first-team regulars for Sunday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League game at Dundee United.

Manager Tony Mowbray has confirmed Artur Boruc, Scott Brown and Shaun Maloney have "no chance" of being fit for the trip to Tannadice.

He told Celtic View: "There is no chance of them being ready for Tannadice. They are not ready to train this week, so it's not a question of rushing them back.

"They are trying to get fit and are working with the medical staff. It's frustrating because they are all influential players for us, but we have to accept the situation and move on."

Club captain Stephen McManus is suspended following his red card in last month's Co-operative Insurance Cup quarter-final defeat to Hearts, while fellow centre-back Glenn Loovens was forced off during the 3-3 draw at Falkirk 10 days ago with a groin strain.

Mowbray therefore will be praying Aiden McGeady and Georgios Samaras return unscathed from their respective World Cup play-offs tonight.

McGeady could feature in the Republic of Ireland's game in France, while Samaras is away with Greece in the Ukraine.

Mowbray has only recently welcomed back Marc-Antoine Fortune from long-

term injury.

The 3.8million summer signing from Nancy has featured in the last three games after spending two months on the sidelines with a knee problem.

Fortune said: "The staff here at Celtic have really helped me, plus the physios have really taken care of me and have done a very good job.

"I am feeling good and it won't be long before I am back to normal.

"It's a good thing that this international break has happened. Now I can work and work and be ready for when we come back against Dundee United.

"The players who have been left behind have all worked hard and it's been a good two weeks, plus we have also been able to play in a few games in training. It has been good fun and very useful.

"We were able to work on our tactics and improve our understanding and I really enjoyed it.

"It is nice at Lennoxtown and it was just nice to play football. Don't ask me what the score was – I didn't count – I just enjoyed playing."

He added: "It's nice to be back again.

"I've been out for two months which is really long and it's the first time in my career that I have been out that long.

"So I am really happy to be back."