BRENDAN RODGERS is refusing to rule out crocked Kasper Schmeichel for the remainder of the season.
The 38-year-old Danish keeper missed his first Premiership game of the season as Viljami Sinisalo stepped in to keep a clean sheet in the 3-0 win over Hearts at Parkhead and the Finnish international will be in place for the champions’ match against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Sunday.
Schmeichel, of course, sustained a shoulder injury after playing for Denmark in their 5-2 extra-time UEFA Nations League loss to Portugal in Lisbon a couple of weekends ago.
DOWN AND OUT…Kasper Schmeichel winces in pain in Lisbon.
The Hoops boss was hit with the bad news yesterday that Schmeichel could be out for five to six weeks. The last scheduled game in the domestic football calendar is the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden on Saturday May 24.
If the holders reach the showpiece showdown – they are due to play the Perth Saints in the semi-final a fortnight on Sunday – it would still be a bit of a push for the veteran shotstopper to be fit and raring to go.
However, Rodgers is looking on the positive side and said: “This is just something that, day by day, we’ll have a look at, but the timeline that was given to us was maybe around about that [five to six weeks].
“Kasper tends to think it might not be as long as that, but certainly in the immediate future he won’t be available.”
On a brighter front, Rodgers saw James Forrest return for a cameo role against the Tynecastle club to make his first appearance of the year after sustaining an injury in the Premier Sports League Cup Final penalty-kick shoot-out triumph over Rangers in mid-December.
Paulo Bernardo also came back after a recent knock to replace Callum McGregor in the 64th minute as the Hoops edged three points closer to their fourth successive title.
HEAVEN AND PERTH…Paulo Bernardo celebrates a strike in Celtic’s six-goal romp against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park in September. The Portuguese ace is hoping for some of the same on Sunday.
Liam Scales, who has been out after receiving a facial injury in the 4-2 victory over St Mirren in Paisley just over a month ago, has pencilled in the home match against Kilmarnock a week on Saturday for his return to the pool.
Rodgers, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “I think the big strength for us this season has been the squad.
“That has really helped us get through a really busy schedule.”
Looking ahead to the trip to Perth where the Hoops romped to a 6-0 success earlier in the campaign, the Irishman added: “Since the new manager [Simo Valakari] has gone in, he’s tried to work an idea and I can still see moments of that and what he’s trying to do.
“The pitch will also be a challenge for us, but, whatever conditions it is, whatever the team is that we’re playing, we know that we have to play our game and then look to bring home the points.
“But St Johnstone will be a tough team to break down and we really have to be on our game and that’s what we’re preparing for this week.”
