Celtic striker Henrik Larsson will be out of action for six weeks after breaking his jaw in the win against Livingston on Sunday.

The Swede was hurt after colliding with Livi defender Gustave Bahoken and was forced to leave the field with blood dripping from his face.

Larsson was taken to a Glasgow hospital by ambulance where he underwent an operation on the double fracture.

Scotland's top scorer will now definitely miss both the home and away ties against Stuttgart in the fourth round of the Uefa Cup on 20 and 27 February.

And he will almost certainly play no part in the crucial Old Firm league fixture at Parkhead on 8 March as well as the CIS Cup final against Rangers the following week.

Having had plates and screws inserted in the fracture, Larsson is expected to be allowed home on Tuesday.

Henrik is a world-class player and his loss will be massive Celtic boss Martin O'Neill

He will return to hospital at the weekend so that the surgeon who operated on him can review the damage.

Celtic boss Martin O'Neill was understandably downbeat after losing his 34-goal front man.

"Henrik is a world-class player and his loss will be massive," he told the club's official website.

"However, Henrik has come back from a broken leg and will want to return quickly."

Celtic were given a scare on Sunday when Livingston took the lead early in the second-half through Rolando Zarate.

But late goals from Momo Sylla and Chris Sutton gave the home side a 2-1 win and kept them in the race for the SPL title.

On a more positive note Celtic will complete the signing of Slovakian international defender Stanislav Varga on Monday subject to the player completing a medical and successfully re-obtaining a work permit.