Celtic have suffered a setback ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk, following an update regarding the fitness of defender Carl Starfelt.
What's the word?
As per The Scottish Sun, the Sweden international is set to miss that upcoming meeting with the Ukrainian outfit, having limped off in the recent Old Firm derby triumph with a knee injury.
The report suggests that while the 27-year-old does not require surgery for that issue, he is set to be absent until the start of next month, ensuring he is also set to be unavailable for next weekend's league meeting with St Mirren.
That will ensure he is also unavailable to feature for his country in their upcoming Nations League games with Serbia and Slovenia, with it now a race against time to ensure he is fit again once the Hoops return to action after the international break.
Postecoglou gutted
It is has proven something of a frustrating start to the new season for the former Rubin Kazan man thus far, having made a late return to action after sustaining a hamstring injury earlier in the summer.
While summer signing Mortiz Jenz has impressed since his loan arrival from Lorient in the recent window, title-winning boss Ange Postecoglou will no doubt be gutted at having to be without Starfelt once again, with the Swede having thrived for the Hoops in recent times.
Even though his impact has been brief so far this term, the five-cap brute has caught the eye after netting twice in just four outings in all compeitions from his centre-back berth, with it no doubt a blow to see him restricted to a viewing brief once again.
The £5.4m-rated man had overcome a shaky start to life at Parkhead last season - after his £4.3m arrival from Russia - to become a key figure in Postecoglou's side, forming an "immense" partnership alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers, in the words of Chris Sutton.
The 6 foot 1 titan made 34 Scottish Premiership appearances in that glorious 2021/22 campaign - all of which came from the start - recording a hugely impressive haul of 18 clean sheets, while also averaging 1.2 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game.
That record was even greater than that of the aforementioned Carter-Vickers, with the United States international averaging 0.8 tackles and 1.2 interceptions from his 33 top-flight outings, showcasing just what an asset Starfelt is.
His absence was keenly felt in the defeat to Real Madrid earlier this week, with the Glasgow side somewhat struggling defensively as they shipped three second-half goals after an initially encouraging display.
With a positive result needed away against Shakhtar to help spark any real hope of progression to the knockout round, it will come as a notable blow not to have the Stockholm-born star in tow.