Hamstring injury rules key midfielder Joe Ledley out of Celtic's title run-in
Celtic midfielder Joe Ledley will miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.
Key figure: Joe Ledley (right) has proved an influential figure in the Celtic midfield Photo: REUTERS
By Andrew Lomax 8:01PM BST 26 Apr 2011
Comments
The Wales international's worst fears were confirmed on Tuesday after he limped off during Sunday's Old Firm derby at Ibrox.
Celtic confirmed on their official website that Ledley will miss the last six games of the season, which include the Scottish Cup final against Motherwell.
Ledley had been expected to miss the game against Rangers after straining his hamstring in the Scottish Cup semi-final win over Aberdeen the previous Sunday, when he scored.
The former Cardiff midfielder missed the midweek victory over Kilmarnock and Celtic manager Neil Lennon admitted that he was a huge doubt for the Old Firm game.
Speaking last week, Lennon said: "Hamstrings are a very delicate injury and it would be a massive gamble with the obvious chance of it tearing and him being out for the remainder of the season.
"It's not a risk I would be willing to take on a player who has been very influential and who we need for the run-in."
However, Ledley returned in the goalless draw at Ibrox but lasted just 54 minutes before pulling up.
The 23-year-old has emerged as a key player in recent months, holding down a central midfield role alongside Beram Kayal after being moved around the park during the early stages of his Celtic career.
But Lennon has options in the centre in Scott Brown, who has been playing wide right in recent weeks, and Ki Sung-yueng.
Craig Whyte's potential takeover of Rangers cannot come quickly enough for Vladimir Weiss, who is eager to have his own future resolved.
The Manchester City winger saw his Rangers loan come to a premature end this month when he broke a foot.
Weiss fears that Rangers will not be able to match City's asking price should they look to buy him, but that could if Whyte's protracted takeover finally succeeds.
Whyte's bid remains on course following more talks with the board, including chairman Alastair Johnston, who had cast doubts on the Lanarkshire-born businessman's offer.
Whyte had already agreed a deal with the main players in the takeover, majority shareholder Sir David Murray and main creditor Lloyds Banking Group.
Now the Rangers board look set to drop their threat to delay the deal, meaning a deal worth more than £50 million could be concluded in the coming days.
That could spell good news for Weiss, who is eager to return to the club next season. Ally McCoist has been promised a significant sum to revamp his playing squad in the summer, with some reports claiming Whyte would inject £10 million.
And that could help McCoist tie up a deal for the Slovakian. Weiss told the Rangers News: "I would definitely love to come back here if it was the case that City were going to put me out on loan again rather than play me next season themselves.''
Inverness manager Terry Butcher will attempt to re-sign Blackburn winger Aaron Doran, 19, next season.
The teenager took his tally to three goals from eight starts in Monday's 3-0 victory over St Johnstone.
Butcher said: "I would like to get him back here because he is a great, bubbly character, a funny boy, but a good player as well. He has definitely improved since being with us.''
worst fears, kayal, neil lennon, scottish cup, six games, kilmarnock, motherwell, midfielder, midfield, manchester city, winger, asking price, bst, celtic, vladimir, cardiff, aberdeen, takeover, remainder, rangers
No comments:
Post a Comment