Mowbray relieved to avoid new Celtic injuries

Tony Mowbray said he was relieved not to have added any more players to his ever-growing injury list ahead of Thursday’s Europa League clash with Hapoel Tel Aviv, after his Celtic side emerged unscathed from a 1-1 draw with Dundee United.

In a thrilling game at Parkhead on Saturday, Celtic missed the chance to knock Rangers off the top of the Scottish Premier League and had to rely on Scott McDonald to rescue a point; the Australian heading in an equaliser after David Goodwillie had fired United into an early lead.

The Hoops had 15 players away on international duty last week and with several returning injured, Mowbray was forced to change his team.

It is an important week for Celtic, who start their Europa League campaign in Israel before facing Hearts at Parkhead next Sunday.

Summer signing Marc-Antoine Fortune is already ruled out for several weeks while Aiden McGeady returned from international duty with the Republic of Ireland nursing a thigh strain.

Scott Brown’s ankle is also heavily strapped following an injury received playing against Macedonia for Scotland.

Mowbray said that, while he had a lot of tired players after the United game, he was happy to report no new injury concerns.

“There are lots of ice bags and stuff in the dressing room at the moment but that is pretty common,” Mowbray said.

“I don’t think anyone came off injured. A few came off with cramp. (Niall) McGinn came off with cramp, as did (Marc) Crosas.

“Generally I don’t think there are any injuries, just a few knocks and bruises and strains, but we will wait and see.”

McGinn put in a man-of-the-match performance against United in what was his first start for Celtic in place of the suspended McGeady.

The Northern Ireland international has had limited opportunities at Celtic Park since joining the Hoops from Derry City in January.

Mowbray says he would like to use McGinn more often but has been prevented from doing so by the SPL’s under-21 rule.

The league’s rules state that three players in a team’s 18-man squad must be under 21, leaving McGinn kicking his heels in the stands, something which frustrates the player and his manager.

“He’s one of these unfortunate lads who is not under the age of 21 and yet has bags of talent,” Mowbray said.

“He finds himself behind McGeady and (Shaun) Maloney and most weeks doesn’t even get on the bench.

“It would be nice to sometimes to take Aiden off and put Niall on but you don’t get the opportunity because you have to put three under-21s on the bench.

“Niall has been a little bit unfortunate that he hasn’t played more football.”

In the match on Saturday, Socceroos striker McDonald headed Celtic level from a controversial free-kick, after Darren Dods was penalised for handling McGinn’s cross at point-blank range.

It was a decision that left Dundee United manager Craig Levein flummoxed.

“I had an absolutely great view of it. I watch football on television 24/7 and nowadays that is not a free-kick,” Levein said.

“If Darren Dods is eight or ten yards away and puts his arm up to try and stop the ball I couldn’t have said that.

“But I felt that he was too close to the ball for it to be adjudged that he deliberately handled it. I have yet to see anybody who can jump to try and block a cross without their arms being slighted raised from their sides.”