Edmilson Filho is now out and becomes the fifth major absence facing Kairat ahead of tonight’s game
Edmilson goes down injured at Parkhead(Image: PA)
Kairat Almaty have been dealt yet another injury blow after the news that forward Edmilson Filho will miss tonight’s return leg with Celtic.
The Kazakh side battled to a 0-0 draw at Parkhead and, with the Hoops facing a near 5,000 mile return trip to the high altitudes and even higher temperatures in the far reaches of the central Asian nation, many believe they are a good bet to upset the odds and qualify for the Champions League.
But, as far as the bookies are concerned, Brendan Rodgers’ men are still heavy favourites.
And that’s perhaps in no small part down to the mounting personnel crisis facing Kairat boss Rafael Urazbakhtin.
He already knew he’d be without Chelsea-bound wonderkid Dastan Satpayev, who is suspended after picking up a needless 100th-minute booking in the first leg for blocking Arne Engel’s free-kick.
Kairat also lost first-choice keeper Alexander Zarutsky to injury in the first leg and he’ll be replaced with rookie 21-year-old Temirlan Anarbekob.
Portuguese left-back Luis Mata and Georgia cap Giorgi Zaria also remain sidelined after missing the first leg.
And now, in addition to those four absences, it’s being reported in Kazakhstan that winger Edmilson is also going to miss out after picking up an injury in training.
The Brazilian has scored three times in 11 games since his summer move from NK Celje, and nearly had a fourth when he came within a hair of chipping Kasper Schmeichel from the halfway line at Parkhead.
(Image: PA)
It’s generally expected that Plzen loanee Ricardinho and 18-year-old Ramazan Bagdat will deputise for the key attacking duo but their penetration in the final third looks significantly weakened by Edmilson and Satpaev’s absences.
But boss Urazbakhtin isn’t short on confidence his side can do it anyway.
Speaking ahead of the game, he said: “Celtic players may have underestimated us at home. Now they will look at our game in a different way. I think they will have a different motivation and attitude.
“Yes, there is a negative atmosphere around Celtic. But I think this is a team of high-level players. They are used to dealing with such issues.
“They understand that everything depends on them. We also think that everything depends on us.
“I don’t think there is a bigger pressure on Celtic than on our home team.
“We will try to meet them and qualify for the group stage. And our task is to make it happen, to do everything we can.”
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