BAD NEWS: Celtic Player Faces Extended Spell on the Sidelines as RETURN DATE Shifted Surprisingly Due to….

Celtic Suffer Blow as Paulo Bernardo Faces Extended Spell on the Sidelines

Celtic’s quest for domestic and European glory has been dealt a significant setback with the news that midfielder Paulo Bernardo is set to miss around four to five weeks of action due to an ankle injury. The Portugal Under-21 international suffered the setback during last weekend’s Scottish Cup victory over Raith Rovers and was subsequently forced to sit out the Champions League play-off defeat to Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

The absence of Bernardo, who has been an integral part of Brendan Rodgers’ squad this season, will undoubtedly limit the Celtic manager’s options as he seeks to rotate his midfield during a hectic period of fixtures. The Hoops face Dundee United in the Premiership on Saturday before traveling to Munich for the second leg of their Champions League play-off tie against Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

Rodgers, who has consistently emphasized the importance of squad rotation in maintaining a high level of performance throughout the campaign, acknowledged the significance of Bernardo’s absence. “Paulo will be out for a few weeks. He’s got his ankle in a boot so maybe four or five weeks,” Rodgers revealed. “Paulo’s obviously done great for us this season, and what we’ve tried to do with all the players is try and ensure we keep them fit by rotating and maximising the whole squad. And obviously, sadly, he’s out for a little while but we’ve still got good numbers in that position.”

While Bernardo’s injury is undoubtedly a blow, Rodgers can take heart from the fact that winger James Forrest has started running again after a foot injury. The Celtic manager will be hoping that Forrest can regain full fitness in the near future, providing a welcome boost to his squad as they navigate a pivotal period in their season.

As Celtic prepare to face Dundee United on Saturday, Rodgers will be acutely aware of the need to strike a balance between securing a positive result in the Premiership and preserving his players’ energy levels ahead of the crucial Champions League tie against Bayern Munich. With Bernardo set to miss both fixtures, the Celtic manager will need to rely on his squad’s depth and versatility to overcome the challenges that lie ahead.

In conclusion, Paulo Bernardo’s injury is a significant setback for Celtic, but Rodgers’ squad has consistently demonstrated its ability to adapt to adversity. As the Hoops seek to maintain their momentum on both domestic and European fronts, they will need to draw upon their collective strength and resilience to overcome the challenges that lie ahead.