CELTIC’S worst fears appear to be confirmed with Dedryck Boyata likely to be out for the run-in to what could be a historic treble treble campaign.
The Belgian World Cup defender looks to have played his last game for the Hoops, as CQN reported earlier this week.
Boyata limped off in the 75th minute of the 2-1 win over Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox side at Parkhead on Sunday and scans have discovered a ruptured hamstring.
The 28-year-old is highly unlikely to be given the opportunity to say farewell to the fans as he prepares to leave the club at the end of his contract in June.
The Scottish Cup Final is scheduled for May 25 – the 52nd anniversary of the club’s European Cup triumph over Inter Milan in Lisbon – but even if Neil Lennon’s side overcome Aberdeen in the last-four confrontation it will probably be still too soon for Boyata to play.
The classy stopper, who joined from Manchester City for £1.2million four years ago, was nowhere to be seen in Paisley last night when Jozo Simunovic and Kristoffer Ajer took the main central defensive roles.
Filip Benkovic, who will return to Leicester City in the summer when his loan deal runs out, came on for Mikael Lustig in the second-half as Lennon changed the system to a back three.
All three came through unscathed as the champions maintained their 13-point advantage at the top of the Premiership with a 2-0 triumph over St Mirren.
