Brendan Rodgers has revealed the extent of Kieran Tierney’s frustration at being sidelined with a problematic pubic injury but has explained that surgery doesn’t appear necessary for the 21-year-old to correct the issue.

Tierney was on the bench for the 1-0 defeat to Rangers at the end of December but he has not featured for Celtic since the night the Parkhead side lost to Salzburg in the Europa League.

Since the beginning of last season, Tierney has played an astonishing 94 games for both club and country and Rodgers is wary of the 21-year-old being rushed back too soon. There is no timescale on Tierney's return and Rodgers has outlined the extent to which the fullback was struggling with the injury.

“I’m told the earliest he will be back in training will be the start of February,” said Rodgers. “He’s seeing the medical team and they are assessing him. He’s doing work in the gym but he’s not out running as of yet.

“It’s [surgery] not something that’s been mentioned. There’s periods of work and periods of rest and scans to see the reaction. It’s in his pubic area. The medical guys are saying it will just take time.

“You know when he is in pain and he really is in pain. He’s a real throwback. You could see in training he was pushing and giving everything but he wasn’t quite right. One of his great strengths is his physicality and his power and running ability and when that’s affected it takes away a big part of his game. But we hope he is back soon.”

Tierney has been a mainstay of Rodgers’ side and the Celtic manager has acknowledged that the full-back is irked at finding himself unable to play.

“He loves training and he loves playing games,” he said.

“Football really is his life and for him not to be out there playing is tough. But he’s focused on getting back and into the best condition he can be. Hopefully it will be soon because he is a player we miss. He is a player of real quality and we miss him when he is not available.

“He’s a player with a great career ahead of him.”

Meanwhile, Odsonne Edouard has resumed training with the rest of the first-team squad. It is expected that tomorrow night’s game against St Mirren will be too early for the French striker but he could be pushing to get back in at the weekend for the game, while Anthony Ralston underwent a scan on his ankle yesterday after hobbling out of the win over Airdrie.

And Celtic expect that a deal will be concluded imminently for striker Vakoun Issouf Bayo.

The 21-year-old Ivorian’s move has been held up as Celtic await the green light for a work permit, but Rodgers has no fears that there is any issue behind the hold up.

“I think there are other elements to it,” he said. “It is just waiting on that.

“I am only guided by the club, really. It was just time and hopefully that will take place soon.