Image source, SNSRoss County keeper Ross Laidlaw will be out for eight to 10 weeks with a knee injury, the club have confirmed.
Laidlaw sustained the damage in last Saturday's 5-0 defeat by Celtic where he was replaced by Jack Hamilton early in the second half.
County's statement added: "We wish Ross all the very best with his recovery."
Ross Morren
Fan writer
There aren't many tougher tasks in Scottish football than facing a Celtic side full of confidence and on top form. That was the challenge that faced Ross County on Saturday as they travelled to Glasgow to face Brendan Rodgers' side.
The Staggies witnessed first hand how ruthless Celtic can be as the hosts ran out 5-0 winners, with all five goals coming in the first forty minutes of the match.
Against better quality opposition, you don't want to show them any signs of encouragement. In the opening exchanges, County did well to stand firm against the early Celtic onslaught from open play and looked like they'd settled into the game well. Unfortunately, the positive start unravelled from a simple set piece where Luke McCowan's corner found Liam Scales unmarked in the box - a hugely frustrating concession.
Despite the early setback, Don Cowie's side quickly recomposed themselves and looked comfortable in their shape for the following 15 minutes as they tried to build their way back into the game. However, Eli Campbell failed to close down McCowan quickly enough as the Celtic midfielder turned and fired the ball beyond Ross Laidlaw to double Celtic's lead.
With all the momentum with the home side, things went bad to worse for the Staggies as goals from Paulo Bernardo, Calum McGregor and Adam Idah in the space of five minutes put the home side 5-0 up in a display of ruthless finishing. At that point, some County fans feared Celtic would hit double figures by full-time.
Thankfully, Celtic failed to further add to the scoreline in the second half. This was due to the impressive performance of goalkeeper Jack Hamilton, who replaced the injured Ross Laidlaw on the stroke of half-time and made several key saves. It must have been a daunting feeling to come onto the park at 5-0 down, but Hamilton stood up to the challenge really well.
Ross Morren can be found on the County Corner podcast., external
Goalkeeper Jack Hamilton, 30, draws praise from Ross County manager Don Cowie after overcoming illness to feature as a half-time substitute in the 5-0 loss at Celtic Park. (Press and Journal - subscription), external
Image source, SNSRoss County have been drawn at home to Championship side Livingston in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.
The tie will take place on the weekend of 18/19 January.
Sportscene analysis: 'Cowie will try to forget heavy Celtic defeat quickly'
Jordan White, 32, urges improvement from Ross County against Rangers on Sunday after they lost 5-0 at Celtic Park. (Press and Journal - subscription), external
Highlights: Celtic 5-0 Ross County
Image source, SNSCallum McGregor has scored six goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other player.
Celtic have scored in 13 of their 13 games, no team has done so more often in the Premiership this season.
Celtic have scored in their last 22 games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 27 games from October 2022 to May 2023.
Ross County attempted two shots in this game, the lowest total for any team in a single match in the Premiership this season.
Celtic have scored in each of their last 22 games in the Premiership, scoring 67 goals in that run.
Ross County have failed to score in eight of their 15 games, more often than any other team in the Premiership this season.
Celtic have kept a clean sheet in 10 of their 13 games, more than any other in the Premiership this season.
Were you at Celtic Park or following the match elsewhere?
Either way, we want your views on the game - have your say here, external.
Image source, SNSRoss County manager Don Cowie: "I've been in that scenario as a player, I recognise the challenges, you feel like you can't breathe and the pressure becomes too much.
"I wouldn't have liked to have conceded from a set-play at 0-0. They can open you up at any time, but at set-plays you don't want to concede. You've got to stand up to that and make sure you get first contact.
"It's a massive gap. It's about realism and recognising that, but it doesn't mean you don't face the challenge face on and give the best version of yourself."
Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSRoss County's season will not hinge on defeats at Celtic Park, but their potential is being severely limited by a woeful run of form away from home.
They have not won in their last 24 league games on the road, with their last away Premiership victory dating back more than a year ago against Kilmarnock in September 2023.
Although Celtic passed up a catalogue of chances to extend their advantage in the second half, Don Cowie will take a crumb of positivity from the fact his team did not concede after the interval.
They have Hamilton to thank for that, the substitute keeper pulling off a string of fine stops from Idah and Alex Valle after replacing the injured Ross Laidlaw.
Image source, SNSCeltic have no fresh injury problems following their draw with Club Brugge. Odin Thiago Holm has been suffering from calf problems recently.
Will Nightingale (knee) and Max Sheaf (thigh) remain out for County.
Daldeep Kaur
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSNoah Chilvers is hoping to make the most of his first trip to Celtic Park when Ross County side face the league leaders on Saturday.
The 23-year-old midfielder, who joined the Staggies from Colchester in the summer, said: "It's exciting, it'll be my first experience of it.
"It was a good game here against them, we'll be looking to make it difficult for them like we did at our place.
"It's always good to test yourself against the top teams and that's what we'll be looking to do.
"It's a chance to set a marker and show how good we are as individuals and as a team and how we can compete with everybody."
Chilvers, yet to open his goal account after 14 County apperances, says he is setting small targets for himself to ensure he improves.
"I just want to do what I can every game I play, I've been getting better and better each time I'm playing," he added.
"My thing now is goals and assists which will come. I just want to keep performing and make an impact for the team."
Image source, SNSNicolas Kuhn scored the winning goal for Celtic against Ross County last month
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is expecting another tough test against a Ross County side helmed by his first signing as a manager.
Rodgers' side survived a big scare against Don Cowie's County in this season's previous league meeting, with Nicolas Kuhn's 88th-minute strike sealing a 2-1 comeback win in Dingwall.
Rodgers, whose relationship with the County manager dates back to his time in charge at Watford, said: "Obviously, Don, I know well.
"He was my first ever signing as a manager, when I was manager at Watford. And 50 grand, I think he was.
"He was brilliant for me at Watford. I've always been in contact with him and followed him.
"Obviously, he worked closely with Malky [Mackay] and then he's gone out on his own, and I think he's done a really, really good job.
"The game that we played up there, I think it could be a similar type of game. They were super organised.
"They all knew the job and all knew the role. And we had to work very hard at the end to get the result."
Image source, SNSCeltic have won their last 12 meetings with Ross County in all competitions since a 1-0 defeat in February 2021.
Ross County have lost 15 of their 18 league visits to Celtic (D3), including their last 11 in a row by an aggregate score of 34-3.
Celtic have scored at least two goals in each of their last 21 league games (62 goals total, 3.0 per game). This is the longest run of scoring more than one goal in the club's league history
Only Hibernian (2) have earned fewer away points in the Scottish Premiership this season than Ross County (3). The Staggies are winless in 23 league games on the road (D9 L14) since beating Kilmarnock in September 2023 (1-0).
Ross County's Ronan Hale has had more shots (46) than any other player in the Scottish Premiership this season, while he is the league's joint top scorer (5 goals).
Image source, SNSDon Cowie has urged Ross County to show bravery in Saturday's trip to face league leaders Celtic.
County gave the champions a huge scare in Dingwall in October, taking a first-half lead through Ronan Hale before succumbing to two late goals.
Cowie, whose side sit eighth after last Saturday's win over Motherwell, said: "I don't think there's one part of the Celtic team that you focus on too much because they're strong all over the pitch.
"Two months ago when we played them we showed we had a gameplan, it worked really well for the majority of the game. It's away from home, at Parkhead, the way they play, they make it difficult for you.
"It's just standing up to that and giving yourself the best possible opportunity to get a positive result. I want to see bravery, a togetherness. You have to stand up to the challenge.
Stick together and get through the tough moments, because there is going to be challenging moments within the 90 minutes and it's being prepared for that and responding to it."
Image source, SNSDon Cowie has been speaking to the media before Ross County's away game against Celtic in the Scottish Premiership this weekend.
Here are the key lines:
On beating Motherwell for a first win in four games, Cowie says it was an "important victory for us, it comes at a really good time".
The County boss is now braced for "two really difficult games" with the trip to Celtic Park followed by Rangers visiting Dingwall.
He adds: "That's why we worked as hard as we did last year, we want to be facing these teams, we want to be in the Premiership."
Cowie praised his side's "belief" and says the Staggies have "proven we're a really strong team, especially here in Dingwall". Now he would like to see his side "replicate that away from home".
He wants County to show "bravery and togetherness" at Celtic Park and hopes they can "stand up to the challenge" of facing the league leaders.
Ross Morren
Fan writer
The County fans got what we wanted on Saturday as Don Cowie's side delivered a deserved 2-1 win over Motherwell.
It was the positive reaction we were seeking after the 3-0 defeat against Dundee United prior to the international break.
Goals from Ronan Hale and Josh Nisbet in a strong second-half performance secured all three points. Even when Zach Robinson halved the deficit late on, the County players recomposed themselves and showed great character to see the game out.
One of the most impressive factors in the victory was the effectiveness of the County midfield. Connor Randall won the most tackles and most duels in the match, which provided the platform for Noah Chilvers to support the attack as he topped the charts for chances created, successful crosses and successful dribbles.
Alongside them was Nisbet who had his best performance in a County shirt. He had the highest pass accuracy across the 90 minutes, which was impressive, but the standout moment came in the 54th minute as Nisbet whipped the ball into the far corner from the edge of the box to open his account for the Staggies.
It was a goal of pure quality and excellent technique which fans will hope iss a sign of things to come from the Australia international.
The victory further strengthened the fortress Cowie has built in Dingwall during his time as manager. The Staggies have now picked up 80% of their total points tally so far at home, with only Aberdeen and Celtic having left Dingwall with three points this season.
It's also worth remembering Motherwell handed Cowie his first home defeat back in April in a 5-1 loss, so Saturday's performance and result highlights the progress this County side have made in a short space of time.
Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter
Joshua Nisbet scored a magnificent goal in Ross County's 2-1 win over Motherwell on Saturday.
County's other goal scorer Ronan Hale is unfortunate to miss out on my team of the week, but competition up front was keen this week.
We asked for your views on Ross County's 2-1 win against Motherwell.
Here's what some of you said:
Roger: I believe County have the right management team, are finding good players to bring in, and are now being hard to beat.
Jim: Overall quite an entertaining game spoilt by some terrible refereeing decisions and an incredibly long VAR delay after the Motherwell goal. County dominated second half chances after an even first without much goalmouth action. Two well taken goals, could have been more. Credit to the 'Well fans who made it to Dingwall.
Ron: All the talk recently was about Lennon Miller but he was overshadowed by Josh Nisbet and Noah Chilvers in a midfield controlled by Connor Randall. Encouraging to make so many chances in the second half but having not converted enough of them, we were needlessly left hanging on in the end. Dull first half in driving rain but an excellent performance after the break
Watch Sportscene analysis of Ross County's 2-1 win against Motherwell.
