Team news: Celtic v Astana (A)

Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic side have four key defensive injuries ahead of their third round qualifying clash with Astana.

The Kazakhstan side scored a last minute goal against Zalgiris Vilnius to progress and a number of their current players have faced Celtic before when they played for Maribor and Shakhter Karagandy.

Celtic also played at the Astana Arena in 2013 when they fell to a 2-0 defeat to Shakhter Karagandy in the play-off round.

Astana beat APOEL Nicosia, HJK Helsinki and Maribor to reach last season’s Champions League group stages where they picked up four points and are unbeaten in 11 league home games this season.

Celtic

Erik Sviatchenko and Stefan Johansen didn’t travel to Kazakstan and the Dane is expected to miss at least a week with a groin injury and will be assessed further next week, while the Norwegian didn’t make the trip for personal reasons.

A hand injury has ruled Kristoffer Ajer out and Dedryck Boyata remains out with a hamstring injury.

Kolo Toure has remained in Glasgow to work on his fitness, while backup goalkeeper Logan Bailly is out for a several months after breaking his ankle.

Kris Commons and Gary Mackay-Steven remain out as their recover from respective operations during the offseason.

Jozo Simunovic is still recovering from knee surgery that he underwent in March and should be fit by the end of next month if there are no further setbacks.

Astana

Club captain Tanat Nusserbayev is ruled out with a knee injury.