3 Celtic experimental solutions for Liam Scales injury with one Brendan Rodgers go to remaining

Brendan Rodgers has an injury headache to consider at crucial point in the campaign – with Celtic facing more problems at the heart of their defence.

Daizen Maeda could be out until next season in a blow to the Scottish Premiership leaders title surge – it is at centre-back that the Hoops can’t seem to shake their problems Liam Scales has picked up a strain in his abductor with Celtic boss Rodgers stating he is unlikely to be involved during the clash with St Mirren leaving the Irishman with a major rethink of his backline for Celtic Park showdown.

Cameron Carter-Vickers and Scales have been the preferred partnership this season – but with the US international and Scales being hampered by injury woes at various points throughout the campaign. And when the Parkhead boss has been forced into a rethink that has often brought concerns over the recruitment since Rodgers’ return into the limelight.

But with Celtic knowing that every game is a must-win with Rangers breathing down their necks it’s a far from ideal time to break up your preferred partnership. Record Sport looks at the options to partner Carter-Vickers.

Gustaf Lagerbielke

The Swedish defender was close to leaving Parkhead for Lecce in January after a lack of game time, but could he now have a say on the title race? He was kept around for cover during an injury crisis but still has rarely managed to secure any minutes after his £3million move last summer.

Lagerbielke has not started a game since September and has managed just two substitute appearance since his January switch to Serie A collapsed. If the decision was to keep him around due to injuries the 24-year-old will hope to finally get his chance against the Buddies.

Maik Nawrocki

Maik Nawrocki has faced an injury-hampered spell at Celtic and saw a brief run in the team come to an abrupt halt following he return of Cameron Carter-Vickers. The Polish centre-back limped off against Motherwell back in February and has yet to make another appearance.

He was designated as Liam Scales partner while Carter-Vickers was out and having made the bench in recent weeks he will be hoping he gets the chance to replace the Ireland cap. After making just 10 appearances so far this season fans will be keen to see how their £4.3million summer signing fairs on the right-side of a centre-back duo.

Stephen Welsh

The 24-year-old has remained a trusted figure at the back following Brendan Rodgers return to Celtic Park. Despite being hampered by his own injury problems this season, Welsh has often been the go-to defender should Scales or Carter-Vickers be sidelined.

When Scales was last absent in the win over St Johnstone, Welsh was given the nod. Given the stakes at play Rodgers could turn to a tested pairing.

Tomoki Iwata

While Tomoki Iwata has shown his best in the Celtic engine room in recent weeks, the return of Callum McGregor could see him pushed into a deeper role. While the fitness of the Celtic skipper remains up in the air, Iwata has shown he can play at centre-back already this season.

The midfielder was pushed back into the heart of the defence before Rodgers’ turned to Lagerbielke in the 3-1 defeat to St Johnstone. With Iwata having regular minutes under his belt, could he fill the void left by Scales?