Brendan Rodgers, Celtic’s manager, has stated that if Adam Idah is unavailable for an extended amount of time due to an ankle injury sustained against Motherwell at Fir Park on Sunday, he may send Daizen Maeda back up front.
When Rodgers addressed to the media today, he was awaiting the results of a scan on Republic of Ireland international Idah, who will face Dundee in the William Hill Premiership tomorrow evening at Parkhead.
He is convinced that the £9 million summer signing will not be sidelined indefinitely as a result of the reckless challenge he received from opposition defender Liam Gordon, who was sent off by referee David Dickinson.
However, the Northern Irishman admitted that winger Maeda, who scored twice when put in the middle in the Premier Sports Cup win over Hibernian in August in the absence of Kyogo Furuhashi and Idah, may be pushed back into attack.
“It was a nasty knock Adam took,” said Rodgers. “I think that it was a poor challenge. Thankfully, the ground was a bit wet, so his foot was able to move. If it was a dry pitch and his foot had stuck in the field, then it could have been be a really, really, really bad one.
“But he’s had a little more movement in it the last few days. We’re hoping he’ll come out okay. We haven’t lost him yet, so we’ll wait to see what the scan shows. I can’t worry till I get the results.
“But, certainly, it wasn’t a difficult challenge. As a manager and coach, you don’t have much time after the game to analyse these issues in depth. But when you step back and look at it, it was a poor challenge. I still believe he (Gordon) didn’t aim to cause harm with it.”
The Celtic boss feels Kettlewell, who has now accepted the sentence, would reconsider his position after seeing videos of the incident.
“Yes, I think he will do,” he said. “It might be tough for managers to address their players after a game because there are so many elements to consider. Then you’re swiftly assigned to press duty for an hour or so.
“So, certainly, as a manager, you don’t always receive a true perspective and reflection on it. But I’m confident that when he sees it again, he will have. The player did not appear to want to create the task he did, yet it was still a poor challenge.
“He was on the stretch, he’s off the court, and this is a horrible challenge. So I don’t think you can argue that it isn’t that. So, I believe Stuart saw it again. I understand he needs to defend the player, but this is still a horrible challenge.
“I believe anyone would call it a send-off. Listen, hopefully Adam got away with it. Fingers crossed for Adam and our team that he can pull through and be okay.”
Idah’s injury leaves Rodgers with just one fit specialist striker and he confessed that Maeda could be asked to switch positions once again. “If needed, if needed,” he said. “Earlier on in the season and when Daizen played up front and he scored two goals. So, I think it’s a position he can play.
“We want as many of our players to be fit and available for all of our games. But, yes, Daizen can play this position.
Celtic captain Callum McGregor missed the Motherwell game due to an abductor complaint, and Rodgers was doubtful whether the midfielder would be available to face Dundee tonight evening. However, he is certain his captain will be fit for Saturday’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Aberdeen at Hampden Park.
“We’ll just assess and see how he reacts to his bit of work that he did today,” he told me. “If not, then he’ll definitely be fine for the weekend.”
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