JAMES FORREST is a major doubt for Scotland’s Euro 2020 play-off tie against Israel next month after picking up an ankle injury in Celtic’s win over Riga in Latvia on Thursday night.
The winger, who bagged a hat-trick in Scotland’s 3-2 win over Israel that sealed top place in their Nations League section almost two years ago, is awaiting the results of a scan to determine the extent of his layoff.
But Celtic manager Neil Lennon fears that the 29-year-old will be out for an extended spell, meaning that Steve Clarke may be without one of his key men for the vital play-off fixture on October 8th.
"Yes, I do [think he’ll be a doubt],” Lennon said. “We'll just have to wait and see how it reacts and settles.
“From my own knowledge of it, it can take a few weeks to settle down. He was in a lot of pain when he came off [on Thursday] night.
“We’re waiting on a scan. He’s got bone bruising on his ankle which can be very sore, tender and uncomfortable. I haven’t got a definitive answer on him but he’s definitely out for Sunday [against Hibernian], put it that way.”
Lennon says that his captain Scott Brown should be available for Hibernian's visit to Celtic Park this afternoon after he too picked up an injury in the midweek Europa League qualifying win, but he was far from happy with the wild tackle that had him initially fearing the worst for the 35-year-old.
"He was okay after the game," said Lennon. "He was scraped down the back of his calf. Talking to him after the game and on the flight home, he didn’t seem too concerned about it.
!It was a shocking challenge and I thought it warranted more than a yellow card."
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