Frank McAvennie has now claimed that James McCarthy is 'not fit enough', and so that makes him a 'big problem' for Celtic.
The Lowdown: Injury problems
McCarthy has had a history of injury problems dating back to his days of playing in the Premier League with the likes of Wigan Athletic, Everton and Crystal Palace.
He has only managed to play in a mere eight games at Parkhead so far this season, and has not yet been able to complete the full 90 minutes (Transfermarkt).
The Latest: Available
As cited by The Scotsman, Ange Postecoglou has claimed that McCarthy will be available for the visit of St. Johnstone on Saturday afternoon.
Speaking to Football Insider, former Hoops striker now pundit McAvennie has given his reaction to the news, suggesting that he needs to stay fit so that he can be a mainstay in the side:
“He’s a big problem.
“He is the one Celtic wanted to come in and sit in the middle. That’s an important part of that side.
“It’s not happening because he’s not fit enough. He’s getting more injuries because he’s not fit enough when he does play.
“I don’t know what the situation is, I like him. Turnbull and Rogic are great going forward.
“So we need someone to sit in the midfield and win tackles. That’s what he’s for and he is a good player.
“I don’t think there is anyone else at Celtic who can do that, so we need to be careful with him.”
The Verdict: Don't rush him
The Celts already have a plethora of options in the middle of the park, and so they do not need to rush McCarthy back just yet.
At 30 years of age now, he is clearly not going to be as fit as he was a few years ago, and with his injury history, he may struggle playing in back-to-back matches.
However, McCarthy's experience above all is vital to the team, and so he should at least make the bench for the weekend.