DUNDEE: Celtic manager Neil Lennon admitted that several key players were in a race to be fit for the vital Champions League home match with Barcelona tomorrow following the 2-2 draw with Dundee United.
Celtic more than held their own against the Spanish giants in the previous meeting a fortnight ago going ahead before losing 2-1 to a goal in the last minute of time added on.
However, Lennon said he had no idea how many of his first choice players would be available for the mouth watering clash in Glasgow.
Celtic sit second in Group G behind Barcelona but are just a point ahead of Spartak Moscow - who are away at Benfica - in third.
Thomas Rogne lasted only 18 minutes of the match against Dundee United before limping off while Honduran international Emilio Izaguirre had to be taken off following a second half fall.
“We are just hoping we can get some players fit,” the Celtic manager admitted.
“Emilio Izaguirre has a hamstring strain and Thomas Rogne went off with a calf injury.
“Gary Hooper, James Forrest and Georgios Samaras are all doubts and we will have to see how Scott Brown is.
“We are starting to pick up some niggles and injuries which is disrupting the flow of the squad at the minute.”
Lennon also refused to blame his players for allowing Dundee United to come back from 2-0 down to take a point.
Despite the draw Celtic, who also lost their previous game to Kilmarnock at Parkhead, returned to the top of the table on goal difference from Hibernian.
“We were brilliant today I thought. We didn’t get what we deserved, which was the three points,” Lennon said. “We should have been a couple up at half-time but when you miss those chances then you always give teams encouragement.
“When we got the two goals, which were two great goals, we just needed to see the game it out and the disappointing thing is we didn’t manage to do that.
“United got the breaks with the goals but that’s football. To come away with a point is very frustrating but I’m pleased with the performance.
“We are maybe not getting the consistency in results but the performance was good as for 85 minutes we were superb.
“But we need to start amassing some points as one out of six is not good enough for us.”
Lennon added: “I’ve got a good team here and there will be a lot of cynical people who will be over critical.
“I’m not going to criticise the team. It was just a lack of concentration at the end and we should have come away with the points.
“We are top of the league with a game in hand and we are looking forward to the game on Wednesday.
“I think once we find a level of consistency it’s going to be difficult for any team in the SPL to keep up with us.”AFP
