FOUR Celts – Mohamed Elyounoussi, Kristoffer Ajer, Nir Bitton and Hatem Abd Elhamed – have been given a reprieve from the risk of coronavirus.
The Hoops stars were on stand-by for tonight’s friendly between Norway and Israel in Oslo, but the game has been cancelled by the host nation’s football hierarchy.
The Norwegian Football Federation calledit off due to concerns over a possible Covid-19 outbreak among the opposition squad.
One unnamed member of the visiting camp has tested positive for the virus with at least three other close contacts self-isolating.
Due to the developments, the Norwegian government’s health board strongly recommended the match be cancelled due to the risk posed.
Hoops Israeli duo Bitton and Elhamed previously tested positive for the virus while on international duty last month and were sidelined for games concerning the champions.
Norway’s secretary general Pal Bjerketvedt, as reported in The Scotsman, said: “It is, of course, sad to cancel a match hours before kick-off.
“At the same time, it underlines the seriousness of the situation we are in.”
In-form Elyounoussi was a certainty to start, but defender Ajer, still suffering from a recurrence of the groin injury that saw him limp off in the 4-1 win over Motherwell on Sunday, looked as though he would have sat this one out.
