Martin O'Neill has explained the reason behind Julian Araujo's absence for Celtic against Motherwell this afternoon, revealing that the defender has a thigh injury.
The right-back has been a near-constant starter for the club since he arrived from Bournemouth in January, making 13 appearances in that time.
However, one of the three changes made by the interim manager involved the Mexican international, who made way for academy graduate Colby Donovan in the starting line-up for the Scottish Premiership match on Saturday afternoon.
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Speaking before his side's game against Jens Berthel Askou's side, O'Neill gave clarity on the 24-year-old's omission from the Celtic squad.
"(Julian) has picked up an injury during the course of the week. He felt very tight after Sunday's game (vs Rangers), and he's felt a little bit (of pain) in his thigh, and we felt that there was no point in risking it today."
Celtic have faced Motherwell twice this season, with their first meeting ending in a 3-2 victory for today's hosts last October, thanks to a late Daizen Maeda winner.
Askou's side got the better of Wilfried Nancy's team in December at Fir Park, beating Celtic 2-0 the last time the two sides met.
Celtic Starting XI: Sinisalo, Donovan, Arthur, Scales, Tierney, Hatate, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Nygren, Yang, Tounekti, Maeda
Subs: Doohan, Cvancara, McCowan, Iheanacho, Bernardo, Saracchi, Murray, Forrest, Ralston
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