ERIK SVIATCHENKO is the latest player to be ruled out of Celtic's Champions League clash with Astana on Wednesday as Brendan Rodgers faces a defensive crisis.

The Denmark international is the fifth centre-back to become unavailable to his manager after he didn't travel with the squad to Kazakhstan.

Details of the severity of a knock remain unclear, but the 24-year-old has joined the injured Dedryck Boyata, Jozo Simunovic and Kristoffer Ajer in missing out.

Read more: Plastic pitch in Astana perfect for Celtic insists assistant boss DaviesGlasgow Times: Erik Sviatchenko sis fit and ready to play tonight

Kolo Toure signed a one-year contract with the Parkhead club on Sunday but has also failed to make the trip for the second qualifying round first leg.

Efe Ambrose could now be recalled to Rodgers' lineup, while Mikael Lustig moving into the centre is also a possibility along with a start for 20-year-old Eoghan O'Connell, who scored against Leicester City in a friendly last weekend. 

Charlie Mulgrew has not been considered because an agreement is yet to be found over new contract terms for the Scotland international.