Greece forward Giakoumakis joins list of Celtic injury concerns ahead of Premiership return

Celtic could be without a host of attacking options for their game against against Motherwell in Glasgow at the weekend with Giorgos Giakoumakis the latest injury concern for Ange Postecoglou.

The forward was called up to the Greece squad for their Nations League matches but he wasn’t included in any of the matchday squads for their games against Cyprus and Northern Ireland due to a minor injury.

Manager Gus Poyet says the 27-year-old had a leg knock that he “couldn’t risk”.

And following the win over Northern Ireland in Athens former Chelsea midfielder Poyet says he does not expect him to be fit for the Premiership’s return on Saturday.

He said: “He had a small problem and we couldn’t risk him.

“I don’t know how long. I think it’s not going to be long out, but if you ask me now, I don’t think he will play at the weekend in Scotland. So he was not fit to play.”

The Hoops will be looking to get back to winning ways after the 2-0 defeat to St Mirren before the international break.

And Giakoumakis is not the only attacking player returning to Celtic Park with an injury concern.

Japan forward Daizen Maeda was substituted at half-time in Friday’s friendly against the USA with a thigh problem and was not fit enough to make the squad for Tuesday’s match against Ecuador.

In addition, Sead Haksabanovic was taken off after 32 minutes of Montenegro’s 2-0 Nations League defeat at home to Finland on Monday, while David Turnbull withdrew from the Scotland squad last week due to the ankle injury he sustained against St Mirren.

Manager Ange Postecoglou will be hoping for encouraging news on the fitness of all four players over the coming days as his team prepare to embark on a gruelling run of 13 matches, including four Champions League fixtures, in just six weeks between this weekend and the World Cup break in November.

The Hoops also have issues at centre-back, with Cameron Carter-Vickers withdrawing from the USA squad when he “pulled up a bit sore” during training prior to the St Mirren game.

Reports suggest the influential American is unlikely to be fit for this weekend.

Sweden defender Carl Starfelt is still working his way back from the knee injury he sustained against Rangers at the start of September.