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Celtic "disappointed and frustrated" after Elhamed tests positive for Covid-19

Celtic
© Reuters
The Hoops defender has to enter a 13-day period of isolation and will miss Saturday's Old Firm clash with Rangers at Parkhead.

Celtic expressed more disappointment and frustration after Hatem Elhamed tested positive for Covid-19 while on international duty with Israel.

The Hoops defender has to enter a 13-day period of isolation and will miss Saturday's Old Firm clash with Rangers at Parkhead.

The news comes two days after the Scottish champions confirmed that Nir Bitton, Elhamed's Israel team-mate, was also out of the first Glasgow derby of the year after testing positive for coronavirus.

Ryan Christie is self-isolating after being a close contact of Stuart Armstrong, who picked up the virus on international duty with Scotland, while striker Odsonne Edouard contracted the illness while with France Under-21s, but will reportedly return on Friday.

Celtic boss Neil Lennon will also be without winger James Forrest who is out with an ankle injury.

A statement on the club's website read: "Celtic Football Club can confirm that Hatem Elhamed has tested positive for COVID-19 while on international duty and is now required to enter a 13-day period of isolation in line with regulations in Israel.

"Our medical staff will maintain constant dialogue with him and will provide all required support.

"Everyone at the club sends Hatem our best wishes and, of course, we hope he makes a full recovery as soon as possible.

"We are, of course, disappointed and frustrated that another player on international duty has tested positive – during an international period which is continuing to present huge challenges for the club.

"During the remainder of this international period, as we have done throughout, we will be maintaining close contact with the relevant international associations, in order to ensure everything possible is being done with regards to the care and protection of our players, something which must be a priority.

"While FIFA regulations determine that clubs are obliged to release players for international duty, going forward we are sure wider discussions will take place around this hugely important issue. We will monitor these discussions closely."

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Nir Bitton during a Celtic training session on November 7, 2018
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
CCeltic550095306593
2RangersRangers531187325585
3Hearts513154421268
4Kilmarnock51224644256
5St Mirren51134652-647
6Dundee50144968-1942
Relegation Group
1Aberdeen54104852-448
2Hibernian52125259-746
3Motherwell52035659-343
4St Johnstone51132954-2535
5Ross County51223867-2935
RLivingston52122970-4125
 
First Phase
CCeltic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
RLivingston3339212259-3718


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