Celtic's Player of the Season big doubt for Rangers clash as Dundee United draw compounded
12/23/2024 08:00 AM
Rangers have been given a smidgen of hope in the Scottish Premiership title race as runaway leaders Celtic drop points to Dundee United.
The Gers had managed to eke out a 1-0 victory over Dundee in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday, overtaking stuttering Aberdeen into second in the process.
But Rangers will have their sights on going one better before the curtain comes down in May after Celtic stumbled to a 0-0 draw with Dundee United at Tannadice.
With the gap between Rangers and Celtic now down to nine points, the Parkhead side's slip-up has also been compounded by a potentially serious injury to their Player of the Season so far.
Celtic winger knee injury sweat
Rangers know all too well the impact that injuries can have on a domestic season but scarcely has a lack of available options washed as an excuse.
And it won't with megabucks Celtic, who far and away have the biggest budget and squad in Scotland.
Nonetheless, with several key players missing the drab draw with the Arabs, Celtic are counting the cost of losing Cameron Carter Vickers, Alistair Johnston and Austin Trusty amid a hectic winter schedule.
But the loss of Nicolas Kuhn threatens to be a monumental one for Celtic with our Old Firm rivals praying the issue doesn't keep the Germany winger out 'long-term'.
Brendan Rodgers confirmed after the draw with Dundee United that Kuhn is currently being assessed for a knee injury with more clarity to be offered this week.
"I don't know how long Nicolas will be out for," said Rodgers, as quoted by the Daily Mail.
"Hopefully it's not long term.
"He felt a problem with his knee and then he felt a twinge on Saturday. We hope that it's not too long but I will find out more on Monday about whether he will be back for Thursday.
"He'd been running and moving okay but he felt a twinge when he passed the ball and we will need to see.
"Cameron and Auston were ill. Ali should be back for Thursday and we just wanted to give him recovery time. He did really well to play in the final so we just wanted to rest him.
"Nicolas, we will need to see. He's been tentative with his knee and we didn't want to risk that."
Rangers to face wounded Old Firms rivals
After looking dead and buried in the Scottish Premiership title race a few weeks ago, Rangers suddenly have their hopes up after Celtic's stumble.
Rangers lost the Premier Sports Cup Final at Hampden in dubious circumstances and the Gers are preparing to face Celtic at Ibrox in little over a week's time.
Should Rangers win that match, which will be played in front of a full Ibrox without a Celtic supporter in sight, then the gap will go back to six points with two Old Firms to play.
We don't need to tell you that the forthcoming January 2nd Old Firm at Ibrox is a must win for Rangers if they harbour any ambitions in the title race.
Whilst we're not going to revel in any injuries either, it's clear Celtic losing Nicolas Kuhn is a big blow to their chances.
The former Bayern Munich II winger has 12 goals and 11 assists in 23 games for Celtic this season.
