CROCKED double-act Cameron Carter-Vickers and Filipe Jota will NOT figure again for Celtic this season.
However, there is positive news on young striker Callum Osmand, the summer capture from Fulham, who is preparing to make a comeback after sustaining a hamstring injury in the 3-1 Europa League loss against FC Midtjylland in Denmark on November 6.
Portuguese maverick Jota has not kicked a first-team ball in this turbulent campaign after ending up on crutches when the Hoops sealed their fourth successive title in the 5-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice on April 26 last year.
DERBY DELIGHT…Callum Osmand fires past Ibrox keeper Jack Butland for Celtic’s third goal in the 3-1 League Cup semi-final win on November 2 at Hampden.
Centre-back Carter-Vickers collapsed at the end of the team’s 2-1 home victory over Sturm Graz on October 23, coincidentally Brendan Rodgers’ last game at Parkhead as Hoops manager before his sudden exit four days later following the 3-1 league defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle.
Now Martin O’Neill has admitted both CCV and Jota have no chance of a comeback – but he is hopeful of a return for Osmand, who claimed Celtic’s third and killer goal in the Premier Sports League Cup semi-final win over Ibrox opposition, just before his injury against the Danes.
Surveying his squad for the seven-game Premiership run-in and the Scottish Cup semi-final against St Mirren next month, the Irishman, speaking to Celtic TV, said: “Jota and Carter-Vickers will not be available to us until next season.
“Callum is doing really well, he’s anxious to go and I think he’s been working exceptionally well.
“So, hopefully, that won’t be too far away.”
Alistair Johnston and Arne Engels are also making progress on the fitness front and could be involved early next month.
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