NIR BITTON chances of completing the season for Celtic are in jeopardy.
The versatile defender has been sent back to the Hoops after being ruled out of Israel’s World Cup qualifier against Scotland in Tel Aviv tomorrow night.
Bitton missed his nation’s 2-0 home loss to Denmark on Thursday evening after sustaining a muscle tear in his groin during pre-match training.
It is highly unlikely the 29-year-old utility star will recover full fitness between now and the end of disappointing campaign with the Scottish Cup Final due on May 22.
Bitton, who was red-carded in the 1-0 loss at Ibrox at the start of the year, has not made a first-team appearance since damaging ankle ligaments in the 2-1 flop against St Mirren at Parkhead at the end of January.
The midfielder-cum-central defender was on the substitutes’ bench for the 1-1 draw with Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox outfit last weekend and travelled for international duty before his latest setback.
He now faces another spell on the sidelines with the Hoops may seek compensation for the Israeli FA who announced in statement: “Nir Bitton was injured in the groin. He underwent an ultrasound examination which revealed that he was suffering from a tear.”
