Brendan Rodgers has revealed that midfielder Eboue Kouassi will undergo minor ankle surgery on Thursday after being stretchered off during the Hoops’ 5-0 victory over Kilmarnock in the Betfred Cup.

The 19-year-old was making his first competitive start of the new campaign, and was impressing the home support before he was forced off just before half-time.

In better news, Rodgers confirmed that defender Dedryck Boyata is set to return to training after being sidelined since July with a knee injury.

Ahead of his sides crucial Champions League playoff first-leg at home to Astana, the Irishman gave an update on both Kouassi and Boyata and how they are expected to recover.

He was quoted by the Herald, saying:

Kouassi will have an operation on Thursday. Two of the players went to London to have check-ups on where they are at.

Boyata is good news. He comes back and he’ll be back in early September. Kouassi will have an operation on his ankle.

The knee is stable, but there was a bit at his ankle similar to what Tom Rogic had and it puts him out for six to nine weeks. It is a shame for the boy because he was doing so well.

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Defensively the Hoops have had their fair share of problems recently, as fellow centre-back Erik Sviatchenko and full-back Cristian Gamboa have been out of action for quite some time.

Qualification for the Champions League group stages is on the line tonight as Kazakhstan side Astana visit for the first-leg of the tie.

Kick-off for the match is at 19:45 and will be broadcast live on BT Sport.