Celtic's COVID update on Edouard, Bitton, Elhamed and Christie plus injured duo

Celtic face AC Milan tomorrow night boosted by the availability of Scotland international Ryan Christie.
Ryan Christie is back in contention for Celtic ahead of the visit of AC Milan on Thursday night (Photo by Bill Murray / SNS Group)Ryan Christie is back in contention for Celtic ahead of the visit of AC Milan on Thursday night (Photo by Bill Murray / SNS Group)
Ryan Christie is back in contention for Celtic ahead of the visit of AC Milan on Thursday night (Photo by Bill Murray / SNS Group)

However here is not such positive news over the Hoops’ other Old Firm absentees from COVID-19 restrictions, Odsonne Edouard, Nir Bitton and Hatem Abd Elhamed.

The Israeli duo are still out having contracted the coronavirus while on international duty last week ago. French under-21 Edouard was quarantining after a positive test but returned to the club before the weekend defeat to Rangers but boss Neil Lennon said he had ‘no chance’ of making the derby match.

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Edouard will miss the Europa League meeting with Milan and is undergoing further tests.

Lennon added: “Odsonne has had a cardiac screening and the blood tests and now we have to do some physiological work with him in terms of getting what the response to his heart rate is from certain exertions before we can clear him to train fully with us again. He is going through certain health and safety protocols at the minute.”

While the trio will miss tomorrow night’s game, Ryan Christie – who was forced to self-isolate after a case of coronavirus in the Scotland camp – is back, with coaching staff at Lennoxtown assessing whether he will be fit to start.

But Lennon revealed while James Forrest is progressing, defender Jullien has a back problem.

“He's had scans, there is inflammation at the bottom of his spine. So he is going to be a few weeks, unfortunately. James will be scanned in the next couple of days.

"Mikey Johnston is training but has been a long time out so it is softly, softly with him.”