Celtic midfielder Tom Rogic ruled out 'for a few months' after ankle surgery
Tom Rogic will be out for "a few months" after having an operation on his ankle, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has announced.
Last updated 9th Feb 2017
Tom Rogic will be out for "a few months" after having an operation on his ankle, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has announced.
The 24-year-old Hoops midfielder last played on December 17 in the 2-1 win over Dundee where he came off at the interval and suffered the setback during training.
Ahead of the William Hill Scottish Cup fifth-round tie against Inverness on Saturday, Rodgers said: "Tom Rogic will be out probably for the next few months.
"He had to have an operation. It was unfortunate, it was right at the end of training, the same spot where he had it before.
"His foot stuck in the ground and he did a full twist on it.
"It was either going through the same procedure as before or have an operation so he went to London for an operation and it is all done and he is on the way to recovery now.
"It is a big disappointment because he is a player I was looking forward to seeing back.
"He will be back for the end of the season, it is a disappointment that he will miss up to eight weeks."
Rodgers confirmed that midfielder Stuart Armstrong (hamstring) and striker Leigh Griffiths (calf) will again be on the sidelines but will "definitely" be ready for next week.
However, he had some good news for Celtic fans when he revealed that 34-year-old goalkeeper Craig Gordon, linked with Chelsea during the January window, is "very close" to signing a new deal.
He said: "I have spoken to the club and it is very close, just wrapping up one or two details I believe, 99.9 per cent is all agreed.
"It will be great news once that is complete.
"Once he does sign and hopefully everything gets done fairly soon, then I will be absolutely delighted.
"That is the main signing in the January window as such.
"He is a real pivotal part of how I want to work. I have made it clear since I came in how I wanted to impose my style and the importance of the goalkeeper within that.
"And I look at him now, seven months on from when I came in, and he is a totally different character both in personality, character and his output in the team.
"So to have that assurance for the next few years is very important for the club and another sign of players who are committing to us because they believe in what we are doing.
"So hopefully we can get that sorted and look forward to seeing Craig performing to the level he has been."
The runaway Ladbrokes Premiership leaders - 27 points ahead of Aberdeen - are heavy favourites to extend their unbeaten domestic run to 30 games against Inverness, the only side to have taken points off the champions this season with a 2-2 draw in September.
Former Celtic winger and current co-commentator and pundit Davie Provan claimed the challenge of the Parkhead board will be to keep Rodgers at the club in the face of what will be inevitable interest from England.
However, the former Swansea and Liverpool boss expressed a philosophical approach to his future.
He said: "I don't think about it. I came to Scotland for one reason, Celtic.
"I am 43, the likelihood is I won't be here all my life. That is how football works nowadays.
"Davie was a wonderful player for the club and is a very good analyst when I listen to him.
"But I don't think about that, I only think about improving the club to become the best it can be but whether that is six months, six years, time will tell.
"You can never forecast or predict in modern football.
"You are deemed to be doing very well and then the narrative changes tomorrow and you are not so good.
"So I have learned through experience not to worry about it.
"Never get too carried away when you win, never get too disappointed when you lose. You find a balance."