New signing Gary Hooper will be out of action for up to six weeks after suffering a calf tear during Celtic’s pre-season match against Blackburn.
Hooper, who joined from Scunthorpe for around £2.4million, has already shown he could be one to watch this season after scoring on his debut against Lyon in the Emirates Cup and then finding the net against Braga on his competitive debut in the Champions League qualifier.
The 22-year-old is not the only player currently unavailable for selection and an injury update on the club’s official site has also revealed defender Thomas Rogne will not be available for two or three weeks after sustaining a thigh strain while on international duty with Norway’s under-21s.
However, in better news Niall McGinn is nearing a return to action after a spell on the sidelines with a fractured metatarsal. The former Derry City man is about two weeks away from making a return, while Mark Wilson will be in rehab with a right abductor injury for up to 14 days.
Paul Slane’s cruciate ligament rupture sustained in pre-season will see him out of contention for nine months following reconstruction surgery. Paddy McCourt, who suffered a whiplash injury while celebrating his match-winning goal against Inverness Caley Thistle on Saturday, is being monitored on a regular basis.
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