It is devastating for Celtic supporters today as news has broken that on-loan right-back Julian Araujo will be sidelined for 7 to 8 weeks.
The defender has performed well since arriving in Glasgow from Bournemouth, but hasn't been seen since an injury he picked up after the penalty victory over Rangers in the Scottish Cup. He was out celebrating that night, but hasn't made a matchday squad since.
Now, we know that he has suffered a quad strain and will be treated at his parent club south of the border. This means we won't see him again in a Celtic shirt until at least May.
Fans were hopeful that the injury may not be that bad, with the defender posting hints on his social media accounts last week. There was a lot of speculation, and although the news is upsetting, it's good to finally have a timeline.
Fear not - Johnston is on his way back
The time Araujo will be out means that he will miss a lot of action, but the blow will be softened by the fact that Alistair Johnston is on his way back. The defender has been injured twice this season, back-to-back, but hopefully, he will be able to stay fit now.
With the Celts sitting in third place, behind both Hearts and Rangers, it's going to be a tricky one if they want to retain their title. Under Martin O'Neill, things have mostly been positive, but lacklustre results under Brendan Rodgers and then Wilfried Nancy have had a massive effect on the season as a whole.
The absence of Araujo will only add to that challenge. His attacking presence from right-back has been amazing, and until Johnston is back, there may need to be slight changes tactically to adjust.
But hopefully, Johnston will hit the ground running when he returns. If he can quickly find his form and keep his fitness up, he has the quality and the experience to fill the gap left by Araujo. Of course, Celtic will need to be careful not to rush him back, especially considering the multiple setbacks he has had this season.
So while the Araujo news is a significant blow for Celtic, it may not ruin their season. Key players are returning, and everything is still to play for. The next few weeks are going to be crucial if the Hoops want to claw their way back into the title race. Hopefully, everyone will step up to the call.