Source: Team_Talk
Celtic v Inverness reaction
Celtic boss Neil Lennon admits the news that Kelvin Wilson will be out for 10 weeks with a torn Achilles has come as "huge blow".[LNB] The Hoops defender picked up the injury in the Scottish Communities League Cup third-round win over Ross County in midweek and missed Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League visit of Inverness.[LNB]Wilson was initially expected to be sidelined for six weeks but, following Celtic's 2-0 win this afternoon, Lennon confirmed the prognosis on the former Nottingham Forest player was worse than he first thought.[LNB]With Emilio Izaguirre and Cha Du-ri out long term and Scott Brown and Gary Hooper also injured - the latter coming off against Caley with a knock - the Northern Irishman has plenty to ponder ahead of Thursday's home Europa League clash with Italian side Udinese, which comes before the SPL trip to Hearts next Sunday.[LNB]"It looks like anything about eight to 10 weeks," said Lennon of Wilson's lay-off.[LNB]"He has a tear in his Achilles tendon.[LNB]"He had the scan yesterday and the specialist said he would have to be out as long as that.[LNB]"It is a huge blow. We already have Emilio Izaguirre and Cha Du-ri out for a few weeks. It just means we have to re-jig things a little bit in defence.[LNB]"On the plus side Charlie Mulgrew has served his suspension and he will be back in contention for both games this week and he makes us better.[LNB]"Badr El-Kaddouri can't play on Thursday so we will have to make a change anyway.[LNB]"Gary Hooper got a leg knock and it seemed to deteriorate so he was taken off to protect him.[LNB]"We will see how he is. I am hoping it is not too serious."[LNB]Lennon added: "We are looking to bring players to the club in January, regardless of the injuries.[LNB]"Hopefully by that time, Emilio, Cha and Kelvin will be fit but we will have a couple of players maybe coming out of contract near the end of the season and if they are not going to stay then they will have to be replaced."[LNB]Lennon was pleased with Saturday's result, which kept Celtic four points behind Rangers at the top of the table.[LNB]However, the former Celtic skipper was not fooled by his side's ropey defensive display and pointed the finger at goalkeeper Fraser Forster and centre-back pairing Daniel Majstorovic and Glenn Loovens - all of whom looked particularly nervy before first-half goals from Joe Ledley and James Forrest eased the tension.[LNB]Lennon urged all three to buck up their ideas lest they cost the club against better opposition than the Highlanders.[LNB]"They (Loovens and Majstorovic) made a nervy start," said Lennon.[LNB]"They let the balls bounce and they weren't getting to the ball first and it's not like them.[LNB]"I thought they improved as the game went on but against better teams and better opposition we will get punished so we need to brush up on that.[LNB]"[Forster's] decision-making in the first half with the ball at his feet wasn't great but he made a great save second half from [Richie] Foran and that will do him the world of good.[LNB]"And I am sure he is pleased with the clean sheet but we all know, particularly those three that we are talking about, that they can play better.[LNB]"But today was about getting the result and the performance was secondary and without being over-critical, I am very happy with them.[LNB]"It was not by any means a vintage performance from this team but it was solid enough."[LNB]Caley remained bottom of the table but boss Terry Butcher, who revealed defender David Proctor had five stitches put in a head wound which saw him substituted, praised his players.[LNB]"We had chances," said the former Rangers and England defender.[LNB]"I thought we started the game very well and we put Celtic under pressure and I thought Gregory Tade was excellent throughout the whole game.[LNB]"But Celtic scored their first from our throw-in, against the run of play.[LNB]"Then from our corner on the right we conceded the second so I was disappointed with that.[LNB]"But we kept going and I was really pleased with the way we played.[LNB]"We can take a lot of good things into the game against St Mirren next week."[LNB]
