Celtic will be without one of their most important defenders for the start of the new season. Pre-season is now up and running for the Bhoys, who played their first game of the summer on Tuesday night.
The Bhoys drew with Irish side Shelbourne, who are currently in-season, so while the result would usually be a surprise, it is the first time the Celtic players have played a game for more than a month, while Shelbourne played four days prior.
The Bhoys now get back to training, and they will return to action on July 14, when they face Sporting CP during their training camp in the Algarve, Portugal.
Celtic will be without key star for the start of the season
Celtic will be without key centre-back Liam Scales for the first two games of the season due to suspension. Scales picked up his 12th yellow card of the season in the penultimate game of the season.
Rules meant Scales' suspension did not come into play for a full week, meaning he could play the final game with Hearts, but he must now serve that suspension.
Scales will miss two games, which include the season opener against Dundee and the second game against Kilmarnock. That is not ideal for Martin O'Neill, but he should be able to lean on his American duo Auston Trusty and Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Trusty and Scales praise
Speaking last season, O'Neill had special praise for Trusty and Scales after a draw in Bologna. He said: "Trusty was magnificent. He was absolutely magnificent. As he has been in my time here and I'm sure before that. I couldn't give him any higher praise than the performance he put in. He was absolutely magnificent, as were the team.
"He and (Liam) Scales have been really, really great as a defensive two for me during the time that I've been here. Trusty epitomised the spirit of the team. It was colossal, really colossal."
Trusty has been with the US in the World Cup this summer, and following their Round of 16 exit, he will get some time off on holiday before returning to base, likely in a couple of weeks.
The American should be present by the time Celtic face AC Milan on July 25 at Paradise. The league campaign starts just over a week later, and O'Neill will be hoping his reliable centre-back is fit and ready to play.
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