Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has confirmed that defender Alistair Johnston will be sidelined for at least a month after suffering a hamstring injury, while midfielder Arne Engels is on the verge of completing a £22 million move to West Ham.
Engels on the verge of West Ham switch
Engels has agreed a five-year deal with the Hammers, who have broken the English Championship transfer record to secure the Belgian playmaker. The transfer is a blow for O'Neill, who had hoped to keep Engels until after the Champions League play-offs.
O'Neill said: "I would imagine that he's probably at this minute doing the medical. I think West Ham wanted him to be available for the opening day."
"Naturally disappointed that he's leaving the football club. It's hard to dissuade him of that. If it hadn't come up, I think he'd have been happy."
"He didn't moan about Nottingham Forest in January time. So it's an opportunity for him and it's hard for him to turn down. He's going to a really fantastic football club."
"Ideally, I'd have loved him to have stayed and maybe completed it after the two games. It probably wasn't going to happen."
"The fact that Alistair played for us when there was an offer on the table and hurt himself, things like that may disappear. Arne himself was probably worried that was going to happen."
Johnston injury update
On Johnston's injury, O'Neill said: "He'll be out for a few weeks. By the time he's fit it'll be past the deadline. He's been very stoic about it."
"He played after having a very good World Cup. He got through the opening games and it's just a shame for him. It's not long-term but it's something he'll get over."
"He'll be back and he's a really good player. Alistair helped us out immensely in coming in and playing without a great deal of preparation after the World Cup."
Asked if it's a recurrence of last season's long-term injury, O'Neill said: "I think it's a wee bit lower down. Last year it was a bit higher up hence the operation."
"But it's something he'll get over. Towards the end of the first-half he passed the message over to Shaun and Mark that he was feeling it a bit. I don't think he'll be out for long. I'm guessing he'll probably miss September."
O'Neill back in media duties
The 74-year-old was back in media duties for the first time since recovering from a small hospital procedure last week, as he previewed Saturday night's Premier Sports Cup clash at Tannadice.
He joked: "I won't be available for tomorrow - put it this way. But I'm fine, thanks for asking. I think they did pretty well without me so I don't need to worry too much in that score."
"It happens when you get to my age you have a few problems. But honestly, I'm getting there. I watched it on TV, great start."
"Tough 10 minutes after that, I thought Kilmarnock did really well. Second goal settled us down and we went on from there."
