Martin O'Neill delivers positive Celtic injury update
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill delivered some good news for fans on four players ahead of Sunday’s William Hill Premiership clash with Dundee.
Arne Engels could make his return from an upper leg injury when Celtic face Steven Pressley’s side at Dens Park, while Colby Donovan trained on Friday after being forced off at Tannadice and out of the Scotland Under-21 squad following a collision with an advertising board.
O’Neill also allayed fears over Auston Trusty after the United States international went off in the closing stages of his country’s friendly defeat by Portugal on Wednesday.
Julian Araujo will miss the latest trip to Tayside but the Mexico international is expected to return to Glasgow after returning to parent club Bournemouth for treatment on a thigh problem.
Belgium midfielder Engels went off injured in Celtic’s 2-1 win over Livingston on February 11.
O’Neill said: “There was talk about Trusty, but I think he’s going to be OK.
“The problems that had been before the break are probably still there.
“Julian is still recuperating down at Bournemouth and Arne has come back now. We’ll see.
“Each day is a good day for him. He’s trained most of the week, but we’ll just keep an eye on things at this minute. I couldn’t rule him out or in for Sunday.”
When asked if he expected to see Araujo back before the end of the season, O’Neill said: “Of course, I do. I think he’s doing fine in recovery now.
“The physios are obviously keeping in touch with the Bournemouth physios. We expect to see him back, hopefully in the not-too-distant future.”
Celtic could be eight points behind current leaders Hearts and five behind Rangers by the time they kick off against Dundee on Sunday, after a 2-0 reverse against Dundee United made it eight league defeats for the season.
When asked if they need a win to keep their title hopes alive, O’Neill said: “I would imagine really, you’re probably right.
“I think if we started to drop a lot of points there, either two in a draw or a defeat, I think with the games running out, that would be a difficult comeback from there. Not impossible, but yeah.
“I think that we have the belief, yes. Do I have the belief in the team? Absolutely. Do the team have belief in themselves? I think as well.
“We had a setback. The teams in and around us have had setbacks in recent times, I must admit. We’ve just got to put it to the side, get ourselves really geared up for the game and be ready for a very, very strong match.
“I’ve just been reminded there that all three managers of Celtic this season have lost at Dundee. Either Dundee United or Dundee. We’ll try and rectify that.
“We didn’t play well in the game a fortnight ago. I think we’re looking forward to it. We know how difficult it’s going to be, we’ve got to be ready for it.”
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