SEBASTIAN TOUNEKTI has been withdrawn from the Tunisia international squad – on the advice of Celtic.
The £5.2million winger, the champions’ most expensive recruit in the summer transfer window, was in line to play a quickfire series of friendlies against Mauritania, Jordan and Brazil.
Tounekti was poised to play in the first World Cup warm-up game today before the Tunisians take on Jordan, who have qualified for USA, Canada and Mexico next summer, and round off the sequence against the Samba superstars on Tuesday.
FOR MY NEXT TRICK…Sebastian Tounekti on the ball.
However, the 23-year-old flanker has been removed from the pool of players for “medical reasons”.
Local media reports claim the Celtic management officially requested that the Tunisian Federation grant Tounekti a 10-day rest period, with a medical certificate to detail the progress of his thigh injury.
The international bosses did not hesitate in repsonding to the request from the Hoops bosses, according to the Scottish Sun.
Tounekti has been impressive since making his debut in the dramatic and late 2-1 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in September.
Tounekti, who was replaced by Yang Hyun-jun 12 minutes from time in the club’s 4-0 weekend victory over the same opposition, will now prepare for the champions’ next Premiership encounter against St Mirren in Paisley a week on Saturday.
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