Dedryck Boyata is a major doubt for next week’s conclusive Europa League tie against Salzburg.

The Belgian defender required six stitches after a clash of heads with Aberdeen’s Gary MacKay-Steven in the Betfred League Cup final on Sunday but it is a slight hamstring strain is what is expected to keep him sidelined now.

Celtic need just one point from the game to head into the knockout stages, with Austrians Salzburg already guaranteed entry into the latter games of the tournament.

Boyata ruled himself out of Celtic’s UEFA Champions League qualifiers against AEK Athens this summer after the Parkhead side rejected a £9m offer from Fulham. Since then, however, he has been a mainstay of Celtic’s backline and has formed an impressive partnership with 21-year-old Filip Benkovic who is on loan from Leicester.

"Dedryck has a slight hamstring injury, thankfully it's not too serious and we will see how he is over the next couple of weeks but he won't be available for the next few games,” said Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.

Meanwhile, Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths is optimistic that he can force his way back into the Scotland squad after missing out on recent teams.

The striker’s commitment was questioned after he withdrew from Alex McLeish's squad for the double header against Israel and Portugal in October to focus on his fitness.

However, he has maintained that there is no issue between him and McLeish and he has every intention of playing a part in the 2020 European Championships qualifying campaign.

Scotland have been drawn against Belgium, Cyprus, San Marino, Russia and Kazakhstan with Griffiths keen to have a say.

“I had to take the abuse I got on the chin," said Griffiths. “It is always difficult when people want to question it.

"Online, it is very difficult to bite your tongue. You just need to step back and try to ignore but it is difficult when you are in the street and people ask questions, you just need to give the answer you have been saying all along.

"I have said time and again that there is no bigger honour in football than representing your country and I am still the same.

"You hear a lot of people venting their opinions, saying I took the huff because I wasn't going to be playing.

"It wasn't like that at all. I have taken it on the chin here when I have been playing well and then not been playing the next game.

"I wanted to concentrate on being fit. Looking forward, I am more than happy to go into the Scotland squad if I am selected.

"I was looking at the draw for Euro 2020 and we have a good group for that and hopefully I am involved.

"That all comes from playing well for Celtic and getting game time.

"Everything is fine. Me and Mr McLeish had a chat. It wasn't clear-the-air talks but I vented my personal opinion of what I wanted to do and he accepted that.

"There was no animosity or anger between either of us. I texted him after they won the two games to get into the play-off (Albania and Israel) and he quickly replied. There is no animosity at all and hopefully I am still in his plans."