Gavin Strachan confirms when isolating Celtic stars will return

Gavin Strachan has confirmed when Neil Lennon, John Kennedy and the thirteen isolating Celtic players will return to action.

As most would have expected, not much good came out of Celtic’s warm weather training trip to Dubai in the middle of a global pandemic. Ultimately, Christopher Jullien ended up testing positive upon returning because of which Neil Lennon, John Kennedy and thirteen first-team players were forced into isolation.

As a result, they were forced to put out a heavily weakened team against Hibernian, which ended in a 1-1 draw, virtually ending any hopes that the Hoops had of turning around things in the second half of the season. And there is a danger of the same thing happening or worse, when they take on Livingston tomorrow.

In the absence of his two seniors, Gavin Strachan is currently the man in charge on the sidelines. And he has confirmed that those isolating could return to action as early as next Wednesday when the two sides meet again.

As reported by RTE, Strachan said:

"“As I understand it, I think it is Monday that they [Lennon and Kennedy] are back in.“I think we have some guys back in on Sunday, and some back in on Monday, as I understand it.“They will be assessed in terms of their fitness because they have been off for a little while but they should be available for selection.“Everyone that was involved on Monday against Hibs and who was in here [Lennoxtown] training during the week have all returned negative tests.”"

More from Celtic FC News

• Celtic handed fresh injury doubt before Feyenoord game
• Celtic’s £40.7 million announcement should scare Rangers
• Brendan Rodgers makes superb claim about returning Celtic player
• BBC pundit makes sensational claim about Celtic hero Kyogo
• Kyogo Furuhashi sends clear message to Celtic doubters

At the time of writing, the Hoops find themselves 21 points behind the Rangers, with three games in hand. And it is very unlikely that much will change by the end of the season. In fact, with the difference in form between the two Glasgow giants, the gap could only increase come May.

But then, stranger things have happened in football. And we know that Steven Gerrard’s side have the habit of collapsing under pressure. It almost happened in the last Glasgow Derby but the Bhoys failed to take the chances that fell to them before Nir Bitton got himself sent off and Callum McGregor found the back of his own net.

Thus, while there is very little hope of anything changing, it might be a bit too early to give up as well. Let’s fight till the end and see what happens.