Brendan Rodgers bemoans injury 'bad luck'
Celtic have a host of key players sitting on the sidelines ahead of their Europa League clash
Brendan Rodgers is hoping he can lead his side to Scottish Cup victory again this season - but admits their campaign has been hampered by "bad luck" on the injury front.
Dedryck Boyata looks set to miss the first leg of the Hoops' Europa League tie with Russian side Zenit St Petersburg because of a groin injury he suffered against Kilmarnock on Saturday.
However fellow central defender Kristoffer Ajer could be available as an Achilles knock he took looks to be easing up. Jozo Simunovic sat out Celtic's 1-0 defeat by Killie because of the artificial surface at Rugby Park, but should be available for Saturday's tie against Partick Thistle.
Asked whether Boyata would be fit for the visit of the Russians on February 15, manager Rodgers said: "I don't think he will be, the medical team are saying it is probably going to be around a couple of weeks.''
Still unavailable for the visit of the Maryhill side are Craig Gordon (knee), Leigh Griffiths (calf), Marvin Compper (calf strain), Jonny Hayes (broken leg), Tom Rogic, Anthony Ralston (both knee), Stuart Armstrong (hernia operation) and Patrick Roberts (hamstring) but Rodgers will go strong against the Jags.
He said: "One or two of the guys have started to return to training, the likes of Tom Rogic and Patrick Roberts, but they are still a wee bit of time off the games.
"We will put a strong team out. I am always confident that whatever team we put out will look to get the result.
"I don't think there is any rotation that I need to think about, it is just about picking the team to win the game.
"I think it has just been one of those seasons for us, we have had a number of injuries this year so it is a lot of bad luck really.
"But whatever squad or team we put out, we always look to win the game and that is our idea for Saturday, to look to get through to the quarter-finals, but Partick always give us a tough game.'