Celtic have a big Europa League problem if Mika Baur injury proves serious
We don't yet know the severity of Mika Baur's injury setback, with the German suffering an ankle injury with five minutes remaining of last Sunday's narrow home win over Kilmarnock.
Baur later withdrew from Germany under-21s duty, so it's clear it was not simply a rolled ankle, and Martin O'Neill did say the medical department did suggest that it could be a pretty heavy sprain.
The caveat to that is that immediately after the injury is not the best time to assess ankle ligament damage. They will have allowed it to settle for 24 hours or so before performing a scan to assess the situation.
The hope will be that there was no significant ligament damage, which high grade sprains ranging from weeks to months, while smaller issues can be rested and then intensely strengthened to get players back on the pitch in a short time span.
The concern for Celtic will be that this international break is only two weeks long, so there is every chance he could miss the St Mirren game the week after next.
That shouldn't be a major issue if he does, but if he misses there Torreense game on the following Thursday, there will be major concerns.
Celtic realistically have to win that game due to the fixture they have remaining in the competition, and it's arguably the 'easiest' game on their Europa League docket. Torreense qualified after a shock cup win but are a second division Portuguese team who recently replaced their manager after a disappointing start.
To make matters worse for them, they are having to play around 50 kilometres from home due to their stadium not meeting UEFA standards.
But they are still not to be underestimated. Torreense already have six points, so they are tantalisingly close to progressing, only needing three or four more points to secure progression, which would be a huge achievement for them.
And let's be frank, with Celtic's form, they will be looking at the Bhoys as potential victims to their success.
The concern for Celtic is going into that game without Baur, who they rely on as their only real source of legs in the midfield. We have already seen that the Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Callum McGregor combination isn't functional against better sides, and so then the question becomes who else? Oliver Sorensen hasn't impressed, Joel van der Berg and Landon Emenalo would be huge swings in any case, but neither are eligible in the Europa League.
Luke McCowan may be an option, but he has struggled in Europe and isn't wholly trusted by Martin O'Neill. There is potentially a huge problem there for Celtic if this Baur injury is significant.
