POSTECOGLOU’S PROBLEM PILE-UP

CENTRE-BACK Cameron Carter-Vickers will return to the Celtic squad after missing the hard-fought 1-0 win over Hearts at Parkhead last night.

The US international defender, who had played in 17 successive games after arriving on a season-long loan deal from Spurs on deadline day, was mysteriously posted missing for the visit of the Edinburgh club.

Carter-Vickers was nowhere to be seen because of “private issues”, but is expected to be in the travelling pool of players for Sunday’s midday kick-off against Dundee United at Tannadice.

HIGH HOOPS…Ange Postecoglou hopes his injured players recover in time for Tannadice on Sunday.

Carl Starfelt, who had been out for five games, made a welcome comeback and put in an outstanding performance beside Stephen Welsh for 71 minutes until the youngster limped out of the action to be replaced by the versatile Nir Bitton.

The Scotland Under-21 international was just one of three Hoops stars who was forced off against the Tynecastle side, following Anthony Ralson in the first-half and Filipe Jota in the second period.

Adam Montgomery replaced Ralston with Josip Juranovic moving to his more accustomed role on the right while Mikey Johnston came on for the winger who had again looked lively.

The disruption prevented Ange Postecoglou’s pre-match plan which would possibly have included giving James Forrest a rest at some stage as he attempts to get back to full match fitness.

Israel international winger Liel Abada was left on the substitutes’ bench when he might have expected a call to action.

COMEBACK BHOY…Cameron Carter-Vickers is poised to return against Dundee United.

The Parkhead gaffer will now have to await reports on his walking wounded before the match on Tayside.

On the game which was settled by a 33rd-minute strike by Kyogo Furuhashi, Postecoglou said: “I thought we started really well. We dominated where the game was played.

‘I thought we were resilient and I don’t think Joe Hart had any outstanding saves to make during the game.

“We lost some players with disrupted it, but, yeah, we’re happy with the win.

“You are always in a game when it’s one. We defended well, and didn’t really get opened up too much.”

DOWN AND OUT? Celtic will have to wait and hope Anthony Ralston recovers from his injury against Hearts.

On the injury pile-up, Postecoglou, speaking to BBC Scotland, added: “If I had to make a call, Tony’s probably the one of most concern.

“For him to go off, it’s got to be something significant. He started the game so well.”

Greg Taylor, who injured his left shoulder against AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands on August 26, is in line to return, but Greek striker Giorgos Giakoumakis is still battling with a knee injury and is expected to remain sidelined for the next two to three weeks.

HERE WE KYOGO AGAIN AS TRUE GRIT HOOPS GET THEIR REWARD