CELTIC face a frustrating two-week wait before they can take another major step towards retaining the SPL title, courtesy of the international break.

But as he anxiously waved off a team-full of stars following their dramatic 4-3 win over Aberdeen, Neil Lennon fears he has already lost three key men for the match against League Cup winners St Mirren a week on Sunday.

The Hoops boss revealed Adam Matthews' hamstring injury – picked up in Turin – will rule him out of Wales' squad not only for Friday's match against Scotland, but also the match against Croatia a week tomorrow.

James Forrest has already been withdrawn from Gordon Strachan's squad for the ties against Wales and Serbia next week, and will see a specialist tomorrow regarding the bulge on a spinal disc which may need an injection.

With captain Scott Brown awaiting a date for his hip surgery – he could go under the knife this week – and set to be sidelined until May, Lennon can only hope the rest of his players return from international duty unscathed.

Fraser Forster has reported to the England squad with a groin problem, but it is not considered to be an impediment to the keeper winning his first cap, if Roy Hodgson wants to blood him against San Marino on Friday.

And Lennon was happy to report Victor Wanyama – suspended for Saturday's win which restored their 15-point lead over Motherwell – has recovered from the hamstring strain he sustained playing against Juventus two weeks ago.

The Parkhead boss confirmed: "Victor will be ready for the St Mirren game when we come back after this international break. He is going to go to play for Kenya against Nigeria this weekend.

"He only has the one international. Georgios Samaras only has one (for Greece against Belarus), but a number of the the lads have two, including those going with Scotland and Wales."

It is always a worrying time for club managers, and Lennon has more players than most on international duty, many of them travelling vast distances to represent their countries.

"Emilio Izaguirre and Miku are away (Honduras play Mexico then in Panama, and Venezuela are in action in Argentina then at home to Colombia)," said Lennon.

"So a few of them have heavy schedules coming up over the next fortnight, and we will have to see how they are when they get back to Glasgow."

Lennon has already conceded his squad is going to be tested again when they regroup for the final two games before the split.

Those are against St Mirren in Paisley, then at home to Hibs the following weekend, when the title could be secured, if Motherwell drop points in either of their games against Dundee or St Mirren.

And he is disappointed it is two of the young stars of the team, Matthews and Forrest, who are in serious danger of having to be counted out.

"Adam will not make either game for Wales," reported Lennon. "And James will not make either of Scotland's games.

"So both of them might struggle to make the St Mirren game when we come back a week on Sunday.

"Scott Brown will require surgery, but I don't know if he has got a date for that yet. That will keep him out for four to six weeks, I'd imagine."