As Celtic prepare for their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie against Astana of Kazakhstan, Brendan Rodgers has a defensive injury crisis to contend with.
But opportunity could knock as a result for young Irish defender Eoghan O'Connell who has been capped by the Ireland under-21s.
The 20-year-old centre-back, who has made a handful of Scottish Premiership appearances since making his debut in 2014, has impressed Rodgers in pre-season, scoring against Leicester at the weekend.
The former Liverpool manager has said as much.
"I have been really impressed with him over the course of the pre-season," he said of a Cork-born player who is a cousin of ex-Ireland rugby captain Paul O'Connell.
"He is a good size, first and foremost he wants to defend and in the short period I have worked with him, he is good in the air.
"He has been in and around the first team for a few years now. He was up against tough opponents at the weekend, even though Leicester have only been back a few weeks, they come back already fit and I thought Eoghan coped with that very well, the speed of their team.
"He has a brain for football, he understands the game very well for a young player and importantly he plays the game well. For a young player, if they show those qualities and professionalism I never have any fears of putting him in."
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