By support

19th Oct, 2017 | 1:31pm

'It’s a degenerative problem' - Manager confirms Celtic striker injury blow

By James Black

Loaned-out Celtic striker Nadir Ciftci is facing an agonising wait to return to fitness after needing an injection on an ankle injury.

The Turkish forward is on a season-long loan with Plymouth Argyle but has struggled to make an impact for the Pilgrims since joining them this season.

Ciftci has played six times in League One for Derek Adams’ side but has yet to find the net and now looks set for a spell on the sidelines in what is no doubt a major blow for the player.

Argyle manager Adams confirmed the 25-year-old had received an injection but was hopeful his side would have Ciftci back before long.

“We are just assessing Nadir,” Adams said as quoted by the Plymouth Herald website.

“He had an injection into his ankle on Tuesday so he has got a period of time to let that settle in.

“It’s a degenerative problem that has been going on for a wee while. We are trying to get him back fit and playing again.”

Ciftci joined Celtic in 2015 after impressing with Dundee United but has struggled to make his mark at Parkhead and has been regularly sent out on loan.

Loan spells with European sides Eskişehirspor and Pogoń Szczecin followed before moving to the West Country on a season-long loan in August.

According to the Plymouth Herald, there is an option to end Ciftci’s loan deal in January.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers now has a wealth of options in attack with Leigh Griffiths and Moussa Dembele now being joined by Frenchman Odsonne Edouard.

Ciftci’s Celtic contract expires at the end of next season and it’s unlikely he’ll be offered an extension with him nowhere near the first-team in Glasgow.

In other Celtic news, Rangers fans reacted on Twitter after the news of the Hoops’ loss.

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