Credit: Imago

Oliver Walton

Thu 9 April 2026 7:45, UK

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Celtic supporters have been left astonished by their injury pile-up as Colby Donovan potentially faces a spell on the sidelines with an issue suffered against Dundee last weekend.

Donovan had to pull out of the Scotland under-21 squad during the last international break after picking up an injury in their loss against Dundee United.

He returned in time to start against their rivals at Dens Park on Sunday, but gave away a penalty and was taken off in the 67th minute as Celtic won 2-1 late on.

The Herald have now reported that Celtic are braced for more injury woe regarding the 19-year-old as he awaits results of a scan on his recurring problem after the United match.

Fellow right-backs Julian Araujo and Alistair Johnston are already a part of Celtic’s injury list, with several players out for the rest of the campaign as they chase the Premiership title.

Celtic fans concerned about Anthony Ralston amid Donovan woes

Football Insider recently revealed that Donovan could leave Celtic on loan ahead of next season, yet he has still been preferred to Ralston in recent weeks.

Martin O’Neill may now be forced to start the 27-year-old for the next few games if Donovan is sidelined, despite him effectively being Celtic’s fourth-choice right-back.

The prospect of that happening does not excite Celtic supporters, with many fuming at the amount of injuries they have picked up in recent months.

Taking to X to react to the injury news, one fan said: “Ralston (is) our only fit right back out of 4,” with a laughing emoji, before also adding: “Unbelievable luck this season.”

While another added: “Of course we have four right backs at the club and we still always end up with Ralston. Araujo and AJ can’t come back soon enough.”

And one supporter simply wrote: “Please hurry back, Araujo.”

What is the latest on Araujo and Johnston’s respective injuries?

Araujo has been sidelined for the last month with a quad problem, while Johnston last featured for Celtic in October.

There had been fears among Celtic fans that Bournemouth loanee Araujo would not play for the club again, but O’Neill confirmed last week that he fully expects him to return before the end of the campaign.

Johnston had been nearing match fitness before he went away to train with Canada during the international break, but suffered a setback on his final day before returning to Glasgow.

Despite more concerns, O’Neill insisted last week that he has a “fairly good chance” of playing again this season, and so it may only be a few weeks until Donovan is not even needed in their starting eleven.