Celtic suffer injury blow in first pre-season game

Celtic started their pre-season campaign with a game against Ayr United. It was a chance for Brendan Rodgers to give a run out in the park to everybody available and start to build up their fitness over the summer. The result, a 1-1 draw, would not have been any worry. But the Hoops were handed a problem on the day.

One of Celtic's biggest issues in recent times has been their constant injury problems. And it looks like the club are starting to deal with them already.

As reported by The Scottish Sun, Maik Nawrocki was one of those in the starting XI. But the centre-back played for just 20 minutes before limping off with an apparent calf injury.

Nawrocki will surely be hoping to impress Rodgers this pre-season after what was an underwhelming debut campaign with the Hoops for him last time around. And an injury is the last thing he needed. It remains to be seen whether it was a serious issue or a pre-cautionary change. Hopefully, it is not a major problem and he will be available moving forward.

Celtic suffer injury blow in first pre-season game

Nawrocki was signed by Celtic last summer and viewed by many as the replacement for Carl Starfelt, who left to join Celta Vigo. But unfortunately, the Polish defender could not establish himself in the starting XI.

On top of that, there has been speculation that Celtic could sign another centre-back this summer to challenge Liam Scales. That could see Nawrocki slip further down the pecking order.

Thus, this pre-season is very important for Nawrocki. He needs to impress the manager if he is to remain in the mix of things. Otherwise, it is very easy to get lost in the shuffle at a club like Celtic, where the expectation is to win every game.