Celtic manager Neil Lennon has confirmed that defender Mikael Lustig is looking at a four-month absence from first-team duties after undergoing a double hip operation.
Lennon revealed that the Sweden international had been playing through the pain barrier recently and, with his nation failing to qualify for the World Cup, coupled with the club's exit from European competition, Celtic decided that surgery was a viable option.
"Lustig had surgery and will be out for four months," Lennon told reporters. "He had both hips done.
"The procedure was a bit more in-depth than first thought. We are hoping he will be back around March-April time.
"He had a lot of work done so it makes his recent performances even more remarkable really. His movement was restricted and he was in a lot of pain after games so it needed doing."
Celtic, who sit top of the Scottish Premiership by seven points, host Hearts in Glasgow on Saturday.
Shane Callaghan
