POSTECOGLOU’S INJURY UPDATE ON FOUR CELTS

TOM ROGIC and Carl Starfelt are struggling to make Celtic’s Premier Sports League Cup semi-final against St Johnstone at Hampden in in NINE days’ time.

Ange Postecoglou gave an injury up date on the Australian playmaker and the Swedish central defender who have had to pull out of the nations’ World Cup qualifiers with hamstring injuries.

Christopher Jullien, who has been out since sustaining a knee injury on December 30 last year, and Greg Taylor, who injured a shoulder against AZ Alkmaar in August, are both definitely out of the encounter against the trophy holders.

Postecoglou, who is within three hours of his first piece of silverware as Hoops boss, said: “Carl and Tommy are trying hard to make the semi-final.

“It’s obviously an important game, but we also have an important one four days later.

“Tommy is probably a little bit ahead of Carl at the moment, but I wouldn’t rule either of them out right now.

“We won’t put them at risk, so it’s probably going to be one of those touch and go ones.

“If they don’t make the semi-final, I’d think they will probably be ready for the Leverkusen game.”

Towering Frenchman Jullien is back in training while Taylor is recovering following surgery. The defensive double-act are edging closer, but the Greek-Australian gaffer has ruled both out of any chance of a return against the Perth Saints.

Postecoglou, speaking to the Daily Record, said: “I don’t like putting an end date on it, as they could surprise me and come back earlier, or they could get a setback and be longer.

“But they are both working hard and they are both looking good.

“They have different hurdles to overcome. With Greg, it’s about getting clearance for his shoulder. We have had good news on that.

“The last update is that it has healed well, so as soon as he gets the all-clear he is pretty much ready to play.

“With Chris it’s a little more difficult as he will need some sort of game-time and it’s about picking the right moment to put him in.”

Postecoglou is concentrating totally on Celtic, despite reports across the city his opposite number Steven Gerrard is about to quit Ibrox and the Hoops gaffer added: “I am fully focused on our own backyard.

“There is enough here, there is a lot to do and we have been pretty good so far at making sure we don’t take our focus away from what is important.

“For me, right at this point of my tenure at the club, it’s just all about Celtic.

“What anyone else is doing, or what noise is around the place, it’s just not of interest to me.

“I’m just making everyone really aware we can’t get distracted by anyone or anything else.”