KASPER SCHMEICHEL has revealed he will be out for “four to six weeks” with his recurring shoulder injury.
The 39-year-old Danish keeper hasn’t figured in Celtic’s four away games in Stuttgart, Pittodrie and Ibrox (twice) and will not feature against Motherwell at Parkhead this afternoon.
Finnish international Viljami Sinisalo has stepped up and turned in impressive performances in the wins over the Bundesliga club in Germany and Aberdeen in the north east.
Plus the £1million buy from Aston Villa in July 2024 played his role in the 2-2 comeback league draw in Govan and last weekend’s 4-2 penalty-kick shoot-out victory in the Scottish Cup quarter-final following a scoreless extra-time stalemate at the same venue.
DANE PAIN…Kasper Schmeichel screams in anguish after breaking a shoulder in Denmark’s game against Portugal last year.
Schmeichel has returned to training at Lennoxtown, but, despite Martin O’Neill stating he had made progress with his persistent problem, it looks as though the experienced No.1 will not be figuring any time soon.
The legendary shotstopper admitted: “Now I have to protect my body.
“I have been told by the specialists that the only thing that will help my shoulder is a four to six week rest.
“A year ago, I broke my shoulder against Portugal, but stayed on the field and played on because we didn’t have any more substitutions.
“It has caused a lot of after-effects, which have been hard to live with – and play with. But the last few months things have taken a bad turn with my shoulder and it has really caused problems for me.
“Then, when we played the Europa League against Stuttgart a couple of weeks ago, I landed on the wrong shoulder for their first goal and smashed something again.
A BIG HAND…Kasper Schmeichel applauds the Celtic fans.
“I have done everything I could to get ready ever since. I have had various treatments, injections and blockades, and, unfortunately, it has not made it better.
“On the contrary, a nerve was hit during an injection and I also became ill from that.
“I will not be able to perform at my best and am forced to cancel. I hope with all my heart that the boys will now take us to the World Cup.”
Schmeichel, who has been an international mainstay since 2018 and picked up 120 caps, was referring to his nation’s forthcoming play-off against North Macedonia on March 26 and the winner will face either the Czech Republic or the Republic or Ireland for a place in soccer’s summer extravaganza in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
The former Manchester City, Leicester City, Nice and Anderlecht netminder, who replaced Joe Hart following the fans’ favourite’s retirement in the summer of 2024, has already made contact with his international head coach Brian Riemer to tell him of his unavailability.
THAT’S MY BHOY…Martin O’Neill has a word with Kasper Schmeichel.
Schmeichel, speaking to local media TV 2 Sport, added: “Today I called Brian and said that I can’t play the upcoming World Cup matches here in March.
“It really hurts me, because throughout my career I have done everything to play for the Danish national team.
“It’s just the biggest thing for me. I’m with the boys all the way and I know they will give everything to qualify us for the World Cup.”
Riemer will name his squad for the games on Tuesday with Chelsea’s Filip Jörgensen and West Ham’s Mads Hermansen battling for the No.1 position.
* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Celtic v Motherwell this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.
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