Celtic's preparations for the new season have suffered a significant setback as manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed a growing injury list during the club's Austrian training camp. The Scottish champions are facing an early-season fitness crisis with several key players unavailable for their friendly matches.
Injury Woes Mount for Rodgers
New signing Nicolas Kühn, who joined Celtic in a £3 million move from Rapid Vienna, has been ruled out of action after picking up an injury. The German winger isn't the only casualty, with the Bhoys' medical room becoming increasingly crowded.
"We've got a few injuries, which is not ideal," Rodgers admitted. "Nicolas Kühn has a slight issue, so he won't be involved in the friendly games out here."
Growing List of Absentees
The injury concerns extend beyond Kühn, with several other first-team players struggling with fitness issues. The timing couldn't be worse for Rodgers as he attempts to build momentum ahead of Celtic's title defence and Champions League campaign.
"We've got a few other niggles within the squad," the Celtic boss continued. "It's part of pre-season, but we need to be careful with the players and make sure we manage their loads appropriately."
Pre-Season Disruption
The Austrian camp was intended to be a crucial period for Rodgers to implement his tactics and build team cohesion. However, the mounting injury list has forced a change in plans, with the manager now having to work with a depleted squad.
Celtic are scheduled to play friendly matches against Austrian opposition during their training camp, but they'll be without several key figures as they look to build match fitness ahead of the new Scottish Premiership season.
Concerns for Season Start
With the competitive action just weeks away, Rodgers will be hoping the current injury issues don't develop into longer-term problems. The Celtic medical staff are working overtime to ensure players recover quickly, but the situation remains concerning for the Parkhead faithful.
The absence of Kühn is particularly frustrating given his recent arrival, with the German yet to have the opportunity to properly integrate with his new teammates on the pitch.
