BRENDAN RODGERS has been forced to leave crocked Maik Nawrocki out of Celtic’s 25-man Champions League squad .
The £4.3million centre-back who arrived from Legia Warsaw in the summer suffered a hamstring problem during the Hoops’ 1-0 Viaplay League Cup loss to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park just over three weeks ago.
It was announced Nawrocki would be out for two months, as CQN reported, while it was stated Cameron Carter-Vickers could also be sidelined for the same length of time with another muscular injury.
I’M IN CHARGE…Cameron Carter-Vickers took over as Celtic skipper during Callum McGregor’s injury-enforced 11-game absence last season.
However, Rodgers has included the USA World Cup Finals defender in his player pool for the upcoming Group E games against Feyenoord, Lazio and Atletico Madrid with the first encounter due against the Dutch champions in Rotterdam a week tonight.
Gustaf Lagerbiekle, who joined in a £3million switch from Elfsborg last month, gets a place along with Liverpool loanee Nat Phillips who wasn’t considered for the 1-0 derby win at Ibrox where the Swede partnered Liam Scales.
Stephen Welsh, also struggling with a recent injury, is named among the central defensive players.
Interestingly, there is also no place for Argentinian left-back Alexandro Bernabei which could leave Rodgers short of cover for Greg Taylor although Scales can only perform in the No.3 slot.
Two summer signings – South Korean anchorman Kwon Hyeon-Kyu and Australian winger Marco Tilio – are also omitted which is no surprise with neither of the recruits kicking a competitive ball for the club.
I’M IN CHARGE…Joe Hart proves he is in control during the 1-0 win at Ibrox and now he is one of two keepers in Celtic’s Champions League squad along with Scott Bain.
Paulo Bernardo, who beat the deadline to sign a season-long loan from Benfica, is included among the midfielders.
Also in is injured winger Mikey Johnston with the Hoops following UEFA guidelines to name eight domestically-trained players.
The Hoops gaffer has also named just two keepers – Joe Hart and Scott Bain – and overlooked Swiss shotstopper Benji Siegrist who hasn’t figured this term.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, Scott Bain;
Defenders: Alistair Johnston, Anthony Ralston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Gustaf Lagerbiekle, Nat Phillips, Stephen Welsh, Liam Scales, Greg Taylor;
Midfielders: Callum McGregor, Matt O’Riley, David Turnbull, Reo Hatate, Odin Holm, Paulo Bernardo, Tomoki Iwata;
Forwards: Liel Abada, Yang Hyun-jun, James Forrest, Kyogo Furuhashi, Oh Hyeon-gyu, Luis Palma, Daizen Maeda and Mikey Johnston.
