Celtic sweat over Kristoffer Ajer as Neil Lennon provides update on injured defender

Celtic are sweating over the fitness of Kristoffer Ajer with it looking more than likely the defender will miss Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final clash with Aberdeen.

Kristoffer Ajer pulled up with a groin injury during the draw in Lille. Picture: SNS

The Norwegian centre-back was substituted early in the second half of Celtic’s 2-2 Europa League draw with Lille on Thursday evening after lying down on the turf and immediately signalling to the bench that his race had been run.

His manager revealed the player felt pain in his groin and the club aren’t yet aware of the extent of the damage.

Neil Lennon said: “He felt his groin go, so it’s not great by the looks of things. We have to see how long he’s going to be out for. I think he’d be a doubt for Sunday.”

The silver lining was the return of Nir Bitton who replaced Ajer Stade Pierre-Mauroy. It was the Israeli’s first match since squaring off against Scotland in the Euro 2020 play-off at Hampden. He later tested positive for Covid-19.

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