---
title: "Celtic: Nir Bitton expected to be out for up to four weeks"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-nir-bitton-expected-to-be-out-for-up-to-four-weeks/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "SPFL News"
published: "2019-09-04T20:00:06Z"
modified: "2019-09-04T20:00:06Z"
---

# Celtic: Nir Bitton expected to be out for up to four weeks

**Celtic’s Nir Bitton could miss most of September through injury after he [limped out of the Glasgow derby win on Sunday](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/4673227/celtic-nir-bitton-israel-injury-rangers/).**

The [Scottish Sun](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/4680194/neil-lennon-five-minutes-celtic-beat-rangers/) reported quotes from Celtic manager Neil Lennon in which he said that the 27-year-old will be absent for the next “[three or four weeks](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/4680194/neil-lennon-five-minutes-celtic-beat-rangers/)“.

Bitton has also been ruled out of Israel’s upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers, as reported by [The Scottish Sun](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/4673227/celtic-nir-bitton-israel-injury-rangers/), and if he is out for the rest of the month, he will miss [three Premiership games, a Betfred Cup match and the Hoops’ opening Europa League group game](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-glasgow/spielplandatum/verein/371).

He had only [begun playing regularly again this season](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nir-bitton/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/129788) after a knee injury sidelined him for almost a year, according to [The Scottish Sun](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/4361317/nir-bitton-injury-ended-celtic-career/).

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

Bitton has [played as a defensive midfielder for most of his career](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nir-bitton/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/129788) but he has been [deployed in a centre-back role for most of his appearances so far this season](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nir-bitton/leistungsdaten/spieler/129788).

[Last Sunday’s win over Rangers](https://www.skysports.com/football/rangers-vs-celtic/teams/411242) was the [fourth consecutive Premiership game in which he had played in defence](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nir-bitton/leistungsdaten/spieler/129788) and he has adapted commendably to the role, with [Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11781/11800070/rangers-0-2-celtic-player-ratings-odsonne-edouard-shines-again-as-rangers-struggle)‘ Allan Valente noting how he “[looked at ease in defence again](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11781/11800070/rangers-0-2-celtic-player-ratings-odsonne-edouard-shines-again-as-rangers-struggle)” at Ibrox and constantly denied Rangers space in the Celtic penalty area.

In the eight matches this season in which Bitton has started at centre-back, the Hoops have conceded just six goals (0.75 per game). In their other five matches, they have let in six goals, an average of 1.2 per game. \[[via TransferMarkt.co.uk](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nir-bitton/leistungsdaten/spieler/129788)\]

He is not the only Celtic defender currently nursing an injury, with Kristoffer Ajer also set to miss the Hoops’ next two matches, as reported by [Herald Scotland.](https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/17877852.kris-ajer-doubtful-celtics-opening-europa-league-clash-rennes/)

Meanwhile, Hatem Abd Elhamed played through a fracture against Rangers on Sunday according to [Evening Times](https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/17875023.celtic-star-hatem-abd-elhamed-played-fracture-rangers-ten-days-without-training/), having [missed last week’s 4-1 Europa League play-off win against AIK](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/4662140/neil-lennon-celtic-hatem-abd-elhamed-fracture/).

With Jack Hendry [not playing a single minute for the club during Lennon’s time in charge](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jack-hendry/leistungsdatentrainer/spieler/363223) and [new signing Lee O’Connor](https://www.celticfc.net/news/16755) [yet to appear competitively at senior level](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lee-oconnor/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/366681), that would leave [Christopher Jullien and Jozo Simunovic as the Hoops’ only trusted and fully-fit centre-back options](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-glasgow/kadernachposition/verein/371) once the international break is over.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

The absence of Bitton threatens to leave Celtic very light at centre-back for their upcoming fixtures, especially with Ajer also likely to miss the next two games.

The [Israel international](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nir-bitton/profil/spieler/129788) had been performing quite well in his new-found defensive role, with the Hoops concession rate significantly lower with him at centre-back compared to without, and the timing of his injury could hardly have been worse given his recent good form and Celtic’s defensive injury woes.

***Celtic fans, how big a blow is Bitton’s probable absence for the month of September? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below!***