FEARS are growing that Kasper Schmeichel could be sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Celtic’s 38-year-old keeper injured a shoulder during Denmark’s UEFA Nations League play-off loss to Portugal in Lisbon on Sunday.
Schmeichel was reported to have his left arm in a sling after the game that saw the Danes lose 5-3 on aggregate to drop into Group B and they will now play Scotland in Copenhagen in September as the World Cup campaign gets underway.
DOWN AND OUT? Denmark captain Kasper Schmeichel grimaces in pain after sustaining his shoulder injury against Portugal in Lisbon at the weekend.
The legendary netminder, who saved a penalty-kick from Cristiano Ronaldo before sustaining his injury diving at the feet of Diogo Jota, completed the extra-time encounter in obvious distress, but played on as his country had utilised all their substitutes.
National team doctor Morten Boesen played down concerns when he said: “Kasper Schmeichel’s left shoulder was X-rayed and fortunately the images do not show anything abnormal.
“He is clearly in pain after a fall on his shoulder, so we are examining him further with an MRI scan.”
However, Danish media outlet Nyheder 24 report that the knock “is not a minor injury”.
They also questioned if Schmeichel will be fit to face Steve Clarke’s Scots in SIX months’ time.
The worst case scenario would see Schmeichel, who has missed only one game for the champions since arriving as a free agent from Anderlecht in the summer, sidelined for the remaining eight Premiership outings of the campaign.
The holders are also due to face St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup semi-final next month with a place in the grand finale against either Aberdeen or Hearts scheduled for Hampden on May 24 where Celtic could seal a world record ninth treble.
Finnish international Viljami Sinisalo, who made his solitary appearance for the Hoops in the 5-0 Cup win over Raith Rovers last month, is standing by to answer any SOS.
The club will make no announcement until their own medics examine the extent of the damage to Schmeichel’s shoulder.
Brendan Rodgers’ men, with a 13-point advantage, return to league duty when the Tynecastle outfit visit Parkhead on Saturday afternoon.
