Celtic relieved the pressure building on their backs at the weekend with a comfortable victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie, but the schedule isn’t easing up any time soon with league and cup action to contend with over the next five days.

Injuries have blighted the Hoops’ season in a variety of positions, but they’ve taken a toll on the defence most of all with Brendan Rodgers rarely having the opportunity to pick from a fully fit defensive stable of experienced first team stars.

Here’s the lowdown on two players that could give a big boost to their back-line in the closing stages of the season:

Marvin Compper

When was he injured?: The defender was reported to have picked up a calf injury during the club’s January training camp in Dubai, just weeks after signing for the club from Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig.

Potential injury return date: 28/02/2018, as reported by Sky Sports.

How important will he be?: There’s still an element of mystery surrounding the centre-back given he’s yet to make his debut but with the likes of Jozo Simunovic and Mikael Lustig losing form in recent weeks as part of a back three, fans are certainly keen to see what he can offer alongside the impressive Kristoffer Ajer. With experience and plenty of appearances at the top level, there’s hope he can be exactly what the Hoops need at the back.

What the manager has said: “Marvin had the initial knock on his calf in Dubai then he was getting back fit and felt the tightness on the other side. He has been training for a little while now so we will see. He will be back available for Dundee.”

[ad_pod ]

Craig Gordon

When was he injured?: The goalkeeper suffered a knee injury at the end of the first half in a 1-0 win over Hibernian in January, replaced by Dorus De Vries at half-time.

Potential injury return date: 19/04/2018, according to Transfermarkt.

Has he been missed?: Before his injury Craig Gordon had received increasing criticism from supporters who had been unhappy with a series of poor displays between the sticks, but there’s no doubting he is still the best goalkeeper at the club. Dorus De Vries had a horror-show away to FC Zenit and with Scott Bain still untested, the sooner Gordon returns to action the better for the Hoops.

What the manager has said: “It is his other knee as opposed to the one that had been injured and gave him problems. The medical staff had a look at him at half-time and there was that instability in the knee, so it was just unfortunate. He is a great professional and, while we are saying 12 weeks, we are hoping he will be back sooner than that and, all being well, he will be.”