Celtic defender Hatem Abd Elhamed faces a race against time to be fit for the Betfred Cup Final against Rangers.
MailSport understands the Israeli right-back - who has been a key man for Neil Lennon’s side - faces at least three weeks out after picking up a groin injury.
Celtic’s medics are waiting to discover the full extent of the strain which caused him to limp off in their sensational 2-1 Europa League victory over Lazio in midweek.
But with the Betfred Cup Final at Hampden on December 8, the 28-year-old is now a doubt and will have to prove his fitness to Lennon.
The Hoops ace took to Instagram to inform fans of the lay off and said: “Bad news this morning but I will be back stronger. Thank God always."
Celtic paid a fee of £1.6million to sign him from Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Lennon waxed lyrical about him in recent weeks.
He said: “For the money we bought him for he’s proving to be real value for money. But we looked and looked and looked at him.
“Then we looked at him again and were always wondering: ‘What’s wrong with him? Where is the flaw?’
“Every time, though, we went back to him, looked at the footage again and looked at other players.
“And finally we thought: ‘We’ve got to trust our eyes, trust our instincts.’
“I’ve a good relationship with his agent who was waxing lyrical about Hatem ... as agents do. But he has been true to his word so far – Hatem has been excellent."
