Celtic goalkeeper Schmeichel out for up to six weeks

Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel
Kasper Schmeichel is approaching 50 appearances in a Celtic jersey [SNS]

Kasper Schmeichel will miss the next five to six weeks recovering from an injury picked up on international duty, ruling him out of up to seven Celtic fixtures, manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed.

The 38-year-old, who has 46 club appearances this term, picked up the knock during Denmark's Nations League quarter-final second-leg defeat in Portugal last month.

The Danish captain, who has 81 caps, played on in the 5-2 loss that meant the Portuguese progressed 5-3 on aggregate.

Asked about the likely five-to-six-week absence, Rodgers told Celtic TV: "This is just something that, day by day, we'll have a look at, but the timeline that was given to us was maybe around about that.

"Kasper tends to think it might not be as long as that, but certainly in the immediate future he won't be available."

Viljami Sinisalo deputised for Schmeichel in Saturday's 3-0 Scottish Premiership win over Heart of Midlothian - the 23-year-old Finn's second Celtic appearance.

Rodgers' side visit St Johnstone in the league on Sunday then host Kilmarnock on 12 April before the Scottish Cup holders meet Saints in their semi-final at Hampden Park on 20 April.

After that, the defending champions will have five more Premiership games against top-six sides and possibly a Scottish Cup final versus Aberdeen or Hearts to play.

A midweek Premiership fixture card is expected on 14 May, which could be Schmeichel's first game back, or he could return on the final round of league fixtures on 17-18 May.

The Scottish Cup final is on 24 May.

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