Martin O’Neill faces an anxious wait to find the complete extent of Mika Baur’s ankle damage after the midfielder hobbled off in misery late of their win in opposition to Kilmarnock.
Celtic re-established their four-point lead on the prime of the Premiership with a 1-0 victory over the Premiership’s backside membership courtesy of Liam Scales’ first-half strike.
However the end result was achieved amid concern for the German who did not get better from a late deal with by visiting midfielder Aaron Tshibola.
Baur, who’s been excellent since becoming a member of from Paderborn in the summertime, is because of be a part of up with Germany’s Underneath-21s for his or her video games with Belgium and Croatia however will now wait to find the complete extent of the damage.
‘He’s within the therapy room,’ mentioned O’Neill. ‘His ankle is absolutely sore and we don’t know the harm. We’ll wait till tomorrow to get a scan.
‘Gosh, I’d hope he received’t be out terribly lengthy, however I don’t know for the time being.
Celtic midfielder Mika Baur goes down clutching his ankle after a late deal with by Aaron Tshibola
Celtic supervisor Martin O’Neill hopes that the damage is not going to sideline Baur for a prolonged interval
Kilmarnock boss Neil McCann believes his facet are able to climbing the Premiership desk
‘He’s been nice for us contemplating he’s not the tallest. He’d be about ten stone, possibly not even that, however his workrate is unbelievable. His general studying of the sport is absolutely good and he’s not frightened.’
O’Neill felt his gamers made life tough for themselves with Benjamin Nygren’s penalty miss within the second half typifying their lack of composure in entrance of aim.
‘Happy to win,’ he added. ‘It was a tricky afternoon. We may by no means may put the sport to mattress and Kilmarnock had been at all times within the sport.
‘They performed exceptionally properly at occasions. Even (except for) lacking the penalty, it was actually uncomfortable. However we noticed it by way of. And after the hassle on Thursday (in opposition to Besiktas), I in all probability wasn’t stunned that we didn’t have the identical driving vitality by way of the sport. It was essential to win.’
Kasper Hogh thought he’d put an finish to his 16-game run and not using a aim when he netted within the first half just for VAR to choose up on an earlier foul by Baur on Greg Kiltie.
‘I believed Kasper was off the mark for about 35 seconds,’ O’Neill mirrored. ‘I feel he would possibly have scored the following probability if the primary had counted, however he labored actually exhausting for us.’
Regardless of failing to attain, Hogh’s all-round contribution was recognised by a heat reception from supporters when he was substituted.
‘That’s actually encouraging,’ mentioned O’Neill. ‘When you have the gang behind you then you definitely really feel that in case you’re working exhausting they’ll forgive different issues.
‘It received’t final without end. Strikers reside and die by their objectives however all of us imagine in him within the dressing room which may be very encouraging.
‘In entrance of aim, it’s tough. However he labored exceptionally exhausting, as he did on Thursday. I feel issues will come. His hold-up play is a lot better now.’
O’Neill was requested why Haissem Hassan didn’t determine in any respect within the match-day squad.
‘We’re attempting to do as a lot manoeuvring as doable,’ he defined. ‘If there’s correct competitors for locations it could solely make it higher.’
Jota made his first Celtic begin since April of final 12 months, lasting 45 minutes. O’Neill mentioned: ‘I didn’t anticipate him to final. I believed he may get 60 minutes however he was tiring earlier than half-time.
‘I mentioned I didn’t anticipate him to go the entire approach. Yang (Hyun-jun) was able to go. He’s been sensible for us this season.’
Regardless of failing to take any factors from the match, Kilmarnock supervisor Neil McCann felt his facet’s efficiency was brimming with positives.
‘The boys had been sensible,’ he mentioned. ‘It’s not a simple place to come back, particularly after Celtic’s good outcome in opposition to Besiktas and them having their tails up and being assured.
‘We created probabilities, we had been disciplined and courageous on the ball in a tough surroundings. The boys are actually disillusioned we didn’t take something.
‘I do know there was a penalty saved which was a extremely harsh determination when it’s given, however outdoors that I believed we had been snug.
‘We got here away with nothing, however whenever you mirror there are such a lot of good issues to take and get a head of steam up.
‘If we catch some breaks and be extra ruthless, we’ll begin climbing the desk. There’s not quite a bit between everybody and that’s why I’ve optimism.’
