Martin O’Neill has admitted he was caught off guard by the public nature and severity of Kasper Schmeichel’s injury announcement, saying he was surprised to hear the news the way he did.
O’Neill had told journalists as recently as last Friday that Schmeichel was closing in on a return to fitness. Days later, the goalkeeper appeared on CBS Sports’ Champions League coverage alongside his father Peter and revealed he faces double shoulder surgery and up to a year of rehabilitation, adding that he may have already played his last professional game.
The Celtic manager confirmed he had been aware during his first caretaker spell that Schmeichel was managing pain from a shoulder injury originally sustained while playing for Denmark a year ago, and that the goalkeeper had been receiving injections to play through it. But he said the full extent of the damage came as a shock, and that he had expected the situation to be communicated differently.
O’Neill said he had not heard the announcement directly but learned of it second-hand, adding that he would have preferred to be informed personally. He acknowledged that the club’s physio Tim Williamson had been aware the latest scan had revealed the injury to be considerably worse than previously thought, but said events moved quickly and that he can sometimes be difficult to reach.
He was measured in defending Schmeichel’s decision to play through the injury, drawing on his own experience of doing the same as a player and noting that many footballers make that choice. He spoke warmly of Schmeichel’s contributions during his first spell in charge, recalling a number of significant saves, and said the goalkeeper had given no indication that the problem was as serious as it has turned out to be. He noted that Schmeichel had played against Hibernian after the Stuttgart defeat, producing an important save in that match.
When pressed on whether Schmeichel playing while injured had cost Celtic results, O’Neill pointed out that the team’s form had been reasonable both with him in goal and with Viljami Sinisalo, and suggested the Stuttgart match was the only occasion where a genuine case could be made.
Elsewhere, Callum McGregor is expected to be available for Sunday’s trip to face Dundee United after recovering from a calf injury.
Celtic may also need to monitor the situation surrounding Benjamin Nygren, who told Swedish media this week that it is his dream to play in a bigger league. O’Neill has praised the Swede’s contribution, with Nygren having been involved in goals in five of his last eight appearances. Sebastian Tounekti has also spoken enthusiastically about his recent form. Losing him just twelve months after joining for around £1.7 million would represent a significant blow.