Champions Celtic has been dealt a blow as they continue their preparations for the new season after Nadir Ciftci was handed a ban.
The SPL season starts on August 1 but Celtic will be without new signing Ciftci, who signed earlier in the month for £1.5m from Dundee United as he has been handed a whopping six match suspension for a biting incident that happened in the Dundee derby on the final day of last season.
The Scottish Football Association found the Turkish international guilty of excessive misconduct and the Bhoys have decided not to appeal the ban.
The former Portsmouth player netted a dozen goals in 34 league matches last season but will miss Celtic’s opener against Ross County on Saturday August 1 at Parkhead, a game the champions are 1.17 to win.
Such is the hectic nature of the SPL that Ciftci will be available again for the trip to Aberdeen on September 12.
However, the Dutch-born star’s suspension does not count in Europe so he will be available for the Champions League qualifiers.
Celtic assistant manager John Collins has rued the absence of Ciftci but feels that the striker will at least be fresh for the Hoops’ European games, which he considers a positive.
Collins said: “That was in the past and he has to take his punishment, learn from it and look forward to playing well in a Celtic jersey.
“He won’t be available in the early league games but he will be fresh for the European games so for every negative there’s a positive.”
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