Celtic Injury Crisis Explodes: 6 Ruled Out, 3 Doubts – Beşiktaş Clash Thrown Into Chaos
Celtic’s Europa League campaign is already hanging by a thread —and the injury news emerging on Tuesday morning has just made Thursday night’s home clash with Beşiktaş look even more daunting.
As of November 3, 2026, the Parkhead medical room is overflowing. Six players have been ruled out completely,
while three more remain serious doubts. For a side still searching for their first point in the competition, this is the last thing Martin O’Neill needed.
The Bhoys sit bottom of their section with zero points from their opening fixtures. A home win against the Turkish side is widely regarded as essential if Celtic are to keep realistic hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive with four games still to play.
Instead of building momentum, the squad is being picked apart by injuries at the worst possible moment.
Celtic’s Growing Injury List – The Full Picture
Let’s start with the confirmed absentees. The list makes for grim reading.
Milot Rashica is out with a hamstring injury that will keep him sidelined for at least another two weeks.
The Kosovan winger had been one of the brighter sparks in an otherwise stuttering Celtic attack, and his absence removes a genuine threat on the counter.
Vaclav Cerny was expected to return from his own hamstring problem this week. Instead he has suffered a setback in training and will now miss the Beşiktaş match and likely the next couple of fixtures as well.
His pace and direct running had given Celtic a different dimension; without him the right flank looks significantly weaker.
Orkun Kökçü is nursing a heel issue that rules him out until after the international break. The Turkish midfielder’s creativity and set-piece delivery will be badly missed in what is expected to be a tight, physical encounter.
Ümit Akdağ has broken his wrist and faces an extended spell on the sidelines. While not a first-choice starter every week, his versatility had been useful in a squad already stretched thin.
Fabio Miretti will be absent until towards the end of the month with a shoulder problem. The young Italian’s energy in midfield has been a positive in recent weeks, and his absence further depletes the central options.
Finally, Alistair Johnston has suffered a hamstring setback and will not be available. The Canadian right-back is expected to remain out until after the upcoming international break, leaving Celtic short of experienced defensive cover on that side.
Three Major Doubts Still Hanging Over the Squad
As if six confirmed absences weren’t enough, three more players are major doubts for Thursday night.
Oliver Sørensen has been given time away from the squad for personal reasons. It remains unclear whether the Danish midfielder will return in time to face Beşiktaş.
His physical presence and ability to break up play would have been valuable against a side that likes to dominate possession.
Kieran Tierney is dealing with a couple of knocks picked up in the disappointing league defeat to Falkirk at the weekend.
The Scotland international will be assessed in training over the next 48 hours, but there is real concern he may not be risked.
Tierney’s leadership and defensive solidity have been crucial this season; losing him would be another significant blow.
Yang Hyun-jun is the final doubt. Martin O’Neill confirmed that the South Korean winger is making progress from his hamstring issue and “could be available this week.” However, the manager stopped short of guaranteeing his involvement against Beşiktaş.
With Rashica and Cerny already out, Yang’s potential return would offer a much-needed boost in attack.
What This Means for Thursday Night
Celtic are already under pressure after a poor start to their Europa League campaign.
The weekend’s league loss to Falkirk only intensified the scrutiny on Martin O’Neill and his squad.
Another defeat at home to Beşiktaş would likely see the criticism reach new levels.
Beşiktaş themselves come into the match in mixed form.
The Turkish side currently sit on seven points and occupy the final automatic qualification spot for the Round of 16.
They will view this as an excellent opportunity to strengthen their position, especially after throwing away a two-goal lead in their most recent domestic match.
A point or better in Glasgow would keep them firmly in the driving seat.
For Celtic, the injury crisis forces O’Neill into some difficult decisions.
The back line already looks short of options with Johnston out and Tierney doubtful. In midfield the absences of Kökçü, Miretti and potentially Sørensen leave the engine room light on experience and creativity.
Up front, the combined loss of Rashica and Cerny, with Yang only a maybe, severely limits the attacking threat.
Expect a makeshift side and a heavy reliance on the remaining senior players to dig deep.
The atmosphere at Celtic Park will still be fierce, but the on-pitch resources are thinner than at any point this season.
The Bigger Picture for Celtic’s Season
This injury list is not just a problem for one midweek European fixture. Several of the absentees are expected to miss the next round of domestic matches as well.
With the international break approaching, Celtic must somehow navigate the next ten days with a severely depleted squad.
Martin O’Neill has spoken previously about the need for squad depth in modern football.
That depth is now being tested to its absolute limit.
Supporters will be hoping that the younger members of the squad can step up and that one or two of the doubts can be cleared in time to face Beşiktaş.
A positive result on Thursday would not only keep European hopes alive but would also buy the manager and the squad some much-needed breathing space.
Anything less, and the questions about Celtic’s direction this season will only grow louder.
Latest Updates as of November 3, 2026
As things stand this Tuesday morning:
- Six players confirmed out: Rashica, Cerny, Kökçü, Akdağ, Miretti and Johnston.
- Three major doubts: Sørensen (personal reasons), Tierney (knocks) and Yang (hamstring).
- Martin O’Neill is expected to provide a further update in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
- Beşiktaş are monitoring their own minor issues but have not reported any significant new absences that would dramatically alter their selection.
Celtic fans will be glued to every training update and press conference comment over the next 48 hours.
The hope is that at least one or two of the doubts can be cleared and that the remaining players can produce a performance worthy of the famous old stadium.
Thursday night already felt like a must-win game. The injury news has only raised the stakes further.
Celtic versus Beşiktaş now carries the weight of a season that is threatening to unravel before it has properly begun.
Stay tuned for more updates as the squad situation develops.
This is one European night that suddenly looks a whole lot more complicated than it did 24 hours ago.