KRIS Commons and Anthony Stokes are both injury doubts for the first leg of Celtic's Champions League qualifying tie against HJK Helsinki on Wednesday night after both twisted ankles in yesterday's pre-season friendly with Internazionale at Celtic Park.
The match finished 1-1. Commons, who scored a well-taken goal and looked lively throughout, limped off late in the game leaving Celtic with 10 men for the closing stages, while Stokes was stretchered off after a first-half collision with Inter's Esteban Cambiasso. Celtic will assess both players over the next day or so, but manager Neil Lennon admitted Commons in particular might struggle to be fit on time.
"They've both got badly twisted ankles so the next 24 hours is really important to see how they react," said Lennon. "Kris would be a bigger doubt at the minute than Anthony, but we'll give them as long as possible to see if they can recover in time for the game on Wednesday.
"Anthony's was a block challenge, and Kris just seemed to slip on the turf and go over on it. Sometimes they can be the worst ones. All the weight goes on the supporting leg and it was swollen almost immediately. I don't think there's any lasting damage, but it might be a push for him to be fit for Wednesday."
James Forrest and Kelvin Wilson both missed yesterday's match with minor knocks. Forrest took a bang on the foot in training that needed an X-ray, while Wilson sustained shin splints in last week's friendly with Norwich City, but should be fit to face the Finns. Scott Brown and Thomas Rogne were both rested, while Biram Kayal is expected to return to full training tomorrow.
Lennon last week watched HJK in the second leg of their qualifier against KR Reykjavik and sent a representative – thought to be coach Garry Parker – to watch them yesterday in league action against FC Honka. He expects a difficult challenge on Wednesday.
"I'd like to win and do so by as much possible," he said. "But having watched Helsinki – and again yesterday – we know it's going to be a really hard game. They've got a bit of pace in the team, particularly in wide areas, and they have very fit players who know their way around the pitch. They are going to be hard to break down so the onus will be on us to try to do that, although we will have to be patient.
"I think physically we are in good condition and the football is starting to look better. I think we're ready. Getting up to match speed is the problem, but there are signs that we are getting there."
Yesterday's match in front of a fairly sparse crowd was predictably low key. Inter had brought over a strong squad – like Celtic they are in European action this week – but even players of the calibre of Wesley Sneijder, Diego Milito and Cambiasso were unable to lift proceedings beyond the humdrum.
The first goal late in the first half was, however, a bit special. Charlie Mulgrew's cross-field free kick found its way to Commons on the edge of the box and the winger controlled it on his chest before arcing a lobbed half-volley into the far corner.
Inter drew level late in the game. Fraser Forster made a fantastic stop to deny Milito, but the loose ball was centred by Marko Livaja for Rodrigo Palacio who converted from close range. Lennon, though, was not too disappointed at the late concession. "To say it's the best we've played in pre-season would be an understatement," he added.
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