As Celtic prepare to face Livingston this Saturday, the Hoops find themselves in a familiar predicament—another injury scare in the defensive line.

The trip to Livingston is always a challenging fixture, given the home side’s knack for a deep defensive setup that’s notoriously difficult to penetrate. Add to that the less-than-ideal artificial surface at the Tony Macaroni Arena, and you’ve got a recipe for a gruelling 90 minutes.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has provided an update on the injury situation, confirming that defender Nat Phillips is a significant doubt for the upcoming match. Phillips, who made his debut against Dundee last Saturday, suffered an ankle injury and had to be subbed off at half time.

“We’ll see how Nat Phillips is; he obviously rolled his ankle quite badly last week,” Rodgers told Sky Sports. “So we’ll see how he is; we still have another 24 hours before we make the team.”

It’s almost poetic that Celtic are facing yet another injury concern, particularly in the defensive department. Phillips was brought in as emergency cover after injuries sidelined Cameron Carter-Vickers (CCV), Maik Nawrocki, and Stephen Welsh. The timing couldn’t be worse, as Celtic aim to maintain momentum in the league.

Livingston are well-known for their defensive solidity, especially when playing at home. Their strategy often involves sitting deep and frustrating the opposition, a tactic that has proven effective against many teams. The artificial turf at their home ground adds another layer of complexity to the challenge, affecting the playability and potentially increasing the risk of injuries.

The Hoops can ill-afford another injury blow, especially with a game as tricky as Livingston on the horizon.