Samaras adds to Celtic concerns

Celtic FC have just one tried-and-tested striker fit for their UEFA Champions League double-header against Manchester United FC after confirming that leading scorer Georgios Samaras is to undergo a cartilage operation which could rule him out for seven matches.

Injured forwards
Samaras, 23, was injured during Greece's 2-1 home FIFA World Cup qualifying defeat by Switzerland on Wednesday and will now go under the knife, denying Gordon Strachan the services of a player who has scored eight goals in as many Scottish Premier League games this season. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink has already been sidelined for a month and Chris Killen has a knee injury, leaving Scott McDonald as the manager's only fit forward.

Strachan concern
"We didn't think there was a problem with Georgios but there is," said Strachan after Saturday's 2-1 win against Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC. "How long he will be out depends on when they have the operation and they see the size of the tear, but hopefully it won’t be long. It's hugely disappointing to lose [Samaras and Vennegoor of Hesselink], but it's not just them. We have lost Chris Killen as well, so we are without three physical strikers who give you lots of options. Gary [Caldwell] has stitches in his foot. He tried to play on which is typical of him but he couldn't do it and Marc [Crosas] has hurt his hamstring in the last couple of minutes." Celtic, with one point from two Group E games, travel to Old Trafford on Tuesday before staging the return in Glasgow on 5 November.