Post by Taxigirl on Dec 8, 2003 18:00:14 GMT
Celtic defender Bobo Balde will be fit to face Lyon in the crucial Champions League tie on Wednesday.
The Guinea international centre-half came through a full training session without reaction to a back injury and is available for selection in France.
Balde took a knee in the back during Saturday's 2-0 win at Livingston at the weekend to spark fears he would join Jackie McNamara on the sidelines at the Stade Gerland.
The Scotland international suffered a ligament injury in his elbow in the same game and has been ruled out.
Initial fears suggested the injury was a dislocation but an x-ray showed the problem was not as bad as first thought although McNamara will sidelined for a few weeks.
Didier Agathe is already missing with a hamstring problem while midfielder Alan Thompson is suspended after his second yellow card in the tournament against Bayern Munich last month.
Wing-back Agathe is, however, expected to step up his recovery by beginning running exercises this week.
"It is a massive blow, especially considering how well Jackie has been playing for us. It is three big players that I would prefer to be going into the game with because we are playing against a top quality side," manager Martin O'Neill told the Celtic website.
"We have to cope with that and that's just the way it is. Injuries are there, we can do nothing about it and we have to get our heads down and get on with it.
"We know how tough it is going to be, it would be tough even if we had these players available but we'll give it everything we have and I'm hoping on the evening we get a bit of luck."
Loan signing Michael Gray would appear to be the obvious replacement for Thompson but the Sunderland man is taking nothing for granted.
Gray has been used sparingly since his arrival in September but he has started the last two games against Partick Thistle and Livingston.
"It would be nice to keep my place but the squad is still huge," said Gray.
"The manager has different options. He's got other people who can play on the left so you can't count your chickens and think that you're going to be in the starting line-up because you can fall down flat on your face.
"I just have to make sure that I'm ready, which I am. I look after myself and obviously I've played in the last two games which was good for my fitness so if called upon again, then I'll ready."
Celtic are top of their group and only need a point against Lyon to qualify for the knock-out stages but Gray insists there is still a lot of work to be done.
"I was on the bench for the home game against them and technically they were very good with a lot of pace when they went forward," Gray continued.
"In European football it only takes a second to score a goal and they have players who can do that.
"So we know it's going to be a difficult game but I don't think we will be going there looking to play for a point. I don't think we can play that way."