Wide boys may be answer to Celtic's defensive crisis
The Parkhead side will again be without experienced defenders Glenn Loovens and Jos Hooiveld who are both carrying hamstring injuries. Darren O'Dea is suspended for tomorrow's match after his red card at Aberdeen last week, which leaves 18-year-old Josh Thompson and 19-year-old Thomas Rogne as the only natural centre-backs.
Right-back Andreas Hinkel is back in contention after recovering from a thigh injury but Mowbray is contemplating the use of another full-back to add more experience to his back line.
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Hide Ad"I don't think the injury situation is improving too much," the Celtic manager said. "Andreas Hinkel trained today but Shaun Maloney is not expected back for a week or two. Darren O'Dea is suspended, Loovens isn't going to be ready, neither is Hooiveld. It is probably too strong to say Hooiveld has had a setback but he is not ready yet. It might not be (Thompson and Rogne in central defence). It might not be a centre-half. I might play Mark Wilson there, I might play Lee Naylor there, we will wait and see. You can play full-backs at centre-half no problem, it's been done many times.
"It's not ideal when your three experienced centre-halves are not available but we will have some options. Every team has injuries or suspensions throughout the season, that's why you carry a squad and that's why you have utility players."
While Celtic's current defensive worries may lead some to ask why Mowbray allowed Gary Caldwell to join Wigan and Stephen McManus to go on loan to Middlesbrough in the January transfer window, the manager is comfortable with the changes made to his squad.
Mowbray said: "When everybody is fit we will have five centre-halves, three experienced ones and two young ones. At this moment the three experienced defenders are all out. but we could be sitting here with Loovens, McManus and Caldwell all injured. It's part and parcel of football."