THERE was an injury worry for Celtic as they lost the second of game of their Austrian pre-season tour to Czech side Bohemians 1905 in Wels, with Jonny Hayes limping off injured.

The winger, who only made his return from a broken leg after six months out in Wednesday’s run-out against Steyr, clutched his thigh as he was substituted, and manager Brendan Rodgers is hoping the injury won’t lead to another extended spell out of the side.

“His thigh is a bit tight,” said Rodgers. “It is a shame for him because he started the game quite well, combing well with Scott [Sinclair] down that side. We will just have to see how he is. Hopefully, we have just been a wee bit cautious, but he felt his thigh when he had a shot that just went wide. Jonny is a very dynamic player but hopefully it was just a twinge and it will be nothing too serious.”

Rodgers was unconcerned by the defeat as his side step up their preparations for the Champions League qualifier against Alashkert in Armenia on July 10.

Kieran Tierney started the match on the left of a back three despite the speculation around him amid interest from Everton, and it was his mistake that led to the only goal of the game. He uncharacteristically mis-controlled a pass to his chest and allowed Dominic Masek to slide home from the centre of the box.

James Forrest had hit the bar after good work from Ryan Christie, before Sinclair drew an out-standing save from Roman Vales with a curling right-foot effort.

Rodgers once again rang the changes at the break, with a whole new team coming on apart from Calvin Miller who had earlier replaced Hayes.

Mikey Johnston showed some neat flashes on the right and Ewan Henderson looked neat and tidy in the midfield. Olivier Ntcham was handed the armband, but there was little else to note as the game was played out.

“Olivier has really grown in the squad and is an influential player for us,” Rodgers said. “You see him. He can run all day, he’s so fit and was excellent in the second half.

“We had a few good performances. Jozo [Simunovic] was good, Bainy was good in goal, Marvin [Compper]. The two central midfield boys [Henderson and Ntcham]. There were plusses alongside the fitness because some of them looked sharp and played well.

“The scoreline is irrelevant in terms of what our main objective is. Fitness-wise it was good. We had a game on Wednesday and double sessions on Thursday and Friday, so that is why we looked a wee bit leggy.

“I thought we started the game brightly, got in some good positions and we made a mistake for the goal. It will happen at this stage in the season. It was a very good 90 minutes for both teams in some very difficult conditions.”

After giving most of his players 45 minutes in each of the matches they have played in Austria, the intensity will be stepped up when they take on Blau-Weiss Linz and Sparta Prague on the same day during the week.

The Celtic manager is adamant that there can be no let-up as they look to avoid slipping up in their quest for Champions League football, with the heat in Armenia likely to provide a huge test of their stamina.

“We’ve got two games on Tuesday,” he said. “One in the morning. We’re trying to edge guys towards 90 minutes now. There’s no rest for them, you have to keep pushing them.

“It’s like that because you can over the hill with your fitness and you have to get pushed and keep going.

“A team will play up towards 90 minutes in the morning and then another one later on."