Celtic have confirmed defender Bobo Balde suffered a broken leg during the Scottish Premier League draw with Dundee United on Tuesday.
The Guinea international will now be out for several months as a result of the injury.
A Celtic statement said: ‘Celtic Football Club can confirm that Bobo Balde suffered a leg break during the 2-2 draw with Dundee United on Boxing Day.
‘The Guinean defender, who has been an integral part of the Hoops squad since joining the club from Toulouse in 2001, will be out for a number of months.’
The Hoops defender was carried off in the first half of Tuesday's game.
The 31-year-old appeared to over-stretch while clearing the ball outside his own penalty area, with his right leg buckling underneath him.
After four minutes of treatment on the pitch, the former Toulouse man was taken off and replaced by Darren O'Dea, whose goal in the 78th minute sparked a dramatic comeback from 2-0 down.
Goals by David Robertson and Collin Samuel looked like giving the visitors their first SPL win at Celtic Park in 14 years but two minutes after O'Dea's goal, Shunsuke Nakamura curled in an equaliser from outside the box.
Celtic have right-back Mark Wilson out for two months with a knee injury, while defender Gary Caldwell is still sidelined with a groin strain.
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has already spoken to former Hearts captain Steven Pressley and will be hoping the Scotland international can act as cover at the back for his team.
