JEREMIE FRIMPONG’S claim that Alan Power’s challenge that left him crocked “should have been at least a card” has been rubbished by Kilmarnock boss Alex Dyer.
Celtic’s teenage right-back was carried off minutes from the end of the champions’ 3-1 win at Rugby Park last month- and has missed the last seven games through injury.
Frimpong was left writhing in pain after the Killie midfielder threw himself into a full-blooded challenge. The referee didn’t even blow for an infringement as the match was held up for almost seven minutes.
The Hoops’ fans’ favourite insisted the tackle was “over the top”, but the Ayrshire club’s gaffer was quick to defend his player.
Dyer, speaking to the Daily Record, said: “That’s unfair because it was a good tackle and a strong one.
“Alan’s an honest player and he wouldn’t go out and try to hurt someone.
“I’m glad the lad’s okay because he’s a very good player.
CRUNCH…Jeremie Frimpong is on the receiving end of a full-blooded challenge from Alan Power.
LET’S TALK…Jeremie Frimpong has words with Alan Power as he is stretchered off.
“Football’s changed. The challenges you could make five to 10 years ago you can’t make now. Like I said, the tackle on the night he got the ball.
“But I’m glad Frimpong is okay and I wish him all the best for the future.”
Nineteen-year-old Frimpong, a Holland Under-20 international who joined the Parkhead men on the September 2 deadline day from Manchester City, was far from happy with the challenge.
He said: “It should have been at least a card. It was over the top, but what can you do?
“I don’t know what went through his head, but you have to get on with it. I’ve looked back at it and his legs were up.
“If my foot had been planted on the floor that would have been really bad. Broken? Yeah, I could have.”
Skipper Scott Brown also hit out at Power in the immediate aftermath of the game and hinted he would have been given a straight red card if he had dived into a similar tackle.
Frimpong returned to Neil Lennon’s squad for the 2-1 weekend win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie and could also be involved in tomorrow night’s Europa League last-32 encounter with FC Copenhagen in the Danish capital.
