By support

25th Apr, 2018 | 5:39pm

Defender suffers injury blow ahead of Rangers clash v Celtic

Celtic could be without veteran right-back Mikael Lustig for Sunday’s Old Firm title showdown with Rangers

Swedish football site fotbollskanalen claims that the 31-year-old could miss out on the potential Hoops title party with a broken toe that he suffered in training, which kept him out of last week’s loss to Hibernian.

The defender is hopeful that he will be able to play a part in the game which would see the Bhoys crowned Scottish Premiership champions with a victory.

“I have a broken toe, but back to the weekend I hope,” Lustig said in a text message to the Swedish site.

The Swede has struggled with injury and a loss of form this season but it is still one of the few Hoops players who will be travelling to this summer’s World Cup in Russia.

Football Insider verdict

If Lustig misses out on the derby, it seems a certainty that the Hoops will need to a three at the back system. They have tried a four at the back with Lustig out of the team already this year but it hasn’t worked, and Jack Hendry and Kristoffer Ajer haven’t looked comfortable at all when forced into the unfamiliar position. Lustig has not been in the best form this season, but his experience is always important to have, especially in big games like a potential title winning Old Firm derby. Only time will tell if Lustig manages to make the team, but if he misses out it will be a blow to Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers.

In other Celtic news, two Hoops players have been nominated as Scottish player of the year

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