CELTIC will have to make do with a patched-up central defence against Livingston on Saturday – because they CAN’T recall Jack Hendry from KV Oostende.
The Scotland international defender has been in impressive form since joining the Belgian outfit on a season-long loan in the summer.
The Hoops, with 13 players forced to self-isolate for 10 days after Christopher Jullien tested positive in a Covid test following the Dubai trip, have already recalled midfielder Scott Robertson from Gillingham and goalkeeper Ross Doohan from Ross County.
A makeshift line-up, with Shane Duffy and Stephen Welsh utilised in a new-look partnership in the middle of the rearguard, drew 1-1 with Hibs on Monday when the visitors snatched a stoppage-time draw with a goal from Kevin Nisbet after a David Turnbull free-kick had given the champions the lead.
However, 25-year-old Hendry will not be able to answer a possible SOS from the Parkhead side because there is no January recall in his temporary transfer arrangement.
KV Oostende were adamant they wanted the three times-capped international for the entire season when the switch was arranged in June, according to a report in the Daily Record.
Hendry, who cost £1.2million when Brendan Rodgers signed him from Dundee in January 2018, helped the club to a shock win over third-placed Charleroi at the weekend.
He still has another year-and-a-half left on his Parkhead contract. He slipped down the pecking order when Duffy arrived on his £2million loan deal from Brighton in the summer.
