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Celtic have left four players behind for tonight’s trip to Rennes, . Nir Bitton, Jozo Simunovic, Leigh Griffiths and Mikey Johnston have all been ruled out of tonight’s game.
Rennes host Celtic in the early kick-off as the Europa League group stage gets underway tonight. But the visitors are missing four first-team players for this contest. Christopher Jullien, however, has been passed fit.
Bitton and Simunovic
Bitton and Simunovic have both been out for a few games now. But Lennon will be relieved to have Kristoffer Ajer and Christopher Jullien both available. This will ease his problems in central defence.
Bitton and Simunovic both performed well earlier in the season but Ajer and Julien are more than comfortable. Jullien’s expertise against the French sides could help while Ajer has become Celtic’s most important defender.
Johnston
Talented young midfielder Johnston is also ruled out of tonight’s game. The 20-year-old has a groin injury which kept him out of the squad against Hamilton Academical last weekend.
With three goals and four assists in 10 games this season, it is clear that Johnston is a key part of Lennon’s plans now. But Celtic are well-stocked in the attacking midfield department and should threaten against Rennes tonight.
Griffiths
Griffiths, who has scored three goals in eight games this season, has not travelled to Rennes for this trip. The 29-year-old has a thigh strain and this is a blow for Celtic, who could use his goalscoring knack off the bench.
Odsonne Edouard is in line to start the game anyway but Griffiths is the ideal back-up striker. Vakoun Issouf Bayo could get his chance in Griffiths’ absence. But the Scottish striker is expected to return for Sunday’s clash with Kilmarnock.