The media is praying a weakened Celtic will face the Ibrox side in a fortnight. Wishful thinking

The media loves to paint the worst picture possible when it comes to injuries to Celtic players.

Their headline in the Record this morning is that we’re “sweating” and “facing the prospect of 3 players missing” for the clash against the Ibrox side.

They’re nearly wetting their pants at this prospect.

The thoughts of us being weakened in any way going into this tie sends them into convulsions.

Last night, Sead Haksabanovic was taken off at half time during Montenegro’s tie against Bulgaria.

Apparently this has “sparked injury fears”.

Yet there are no reports of the player being injured from anyone in the Montenegrin camp.

He was taken off at half-time.

Big deal.

Maybe do some actual investigative journalism as to why he was taken off instead of jumping to conclsions?

Yes the Montenegrin manager, Miodrag Radulovic, stated they had some fatigue and injuries after the game, but he did not specifically say Haksabanovic was injured.

Yet, this makes the headline intended to worry Celtic supporters?

Let’s call a spade, we all hate the international break, it breaks momentum, especially when we’re on a good run of form.

It also puts us on tenterhooks, worrying whether or not our players will come out the other side of it fully fit.

The media knows this, so they play on it.

Liel Abada and Daizen Maeda are also reported to have picked up injuries while on International duty:

It comes as Ange Postecoglou faces doubts over two more wingers following their international exploits – Liel Abada and Daizen Maeda. Abada has been sent back to Lennoxtown after picking up a quad training with Israel.

Maeda has travelled with Japan but has spoken about “adjusting” his training routine after picking up a knee injury. Despite boss Hajime Moriyasu putting the 25-year-old on the bench for the Kirin Cup clash with Uruguay, the Celtic attacker did not join the action.

The media says Abada could be out for two to three weeks.

But once again, before we jump to conclusions, it would be best to wait and see what the news coming out of Lennoxtown regarding the extent of his injury will be.

Maeda, on the other hand, may not have a very serious injury as he is still being included in the Japanese squad for the upcoming tie against Colombia.

If his knee injury was too serious, chances are he’d also be on the plane back to Lennoxtown and onto the treatment table.

That does not appear to be the case as of now.

The media is struggling for material right now during the International break.

To create worry for Celtic supports seems like the best thing to do right now.

I hate to burst their bubble, even if these three players were unavailable for the Glasgow Derby, we would still put out a squad strong enough to defeat the Ibrox side.

As we all know, James Forrest has flourished in home ties in the past against the Ibrox side.

While he may not have played too well at Ibrox last January, there is no doubt he would put in a serious shift at Celtic Park and cause major problems for Beale’s Gumtree Galacticos.

Either way, I’ll be content to wait and see what Ange has to tell us in his next media conference.

It’s what he says that matters.

We’ll just have to put up with the media’s attempts at scare-mongering between now and the end of next week.

The sooner this break is over, the better.

Then we can get back to business and finish the Ibrox side off.