CELTIC’S curse of the central defenders has struck South African target Rivaldo Coetzee.
The 20-year-old Ajax Cape Town centre-half scored his first career goal at the weekend – and was then forced off before the hour mark with a hamstring problem.
Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers has received good reports on the £800,000-rated South African international as he attempts to shore up the middle of the champions’ injury-ravaged rearguard.
Dedryck Boyata hasn’t kicked a ball in competitive action this season and Erik Sviatchenko is also ruled out until next month.
Israeli midfielder Nir Bitton has fitted in as a makeshift No.5, but he, too, limped off at Rugby Park on Saturday after coming on for the remaining 20 minutes of the 2-0 win over Kilmarnock.
Coetzee netted the equaliser for his club in the 1-1 stalemate against Lamontville Golden Arrows, but had to come off in the 59th minute.
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