Broken leg brings end to Hayes’ season
Celtic winger out for season after surgery on broken leg
CELTIC confirmed yesterday winger Jonny Hayes will miss the rest of the season following surgery on a broken leg. The 30-year-old was stretchered off after 28 minutes of the Boxing Day win over Dundee after a clash on the halfway line with Josh Meekings.
Speaking after the 2-0 win, manager Brendan Rodgers absolved Meekings of any culpability, expressing the hope the damage might be restricted to bruising of the shin.
However, a post-match X-ray confirmed a fracture — with the Irish international going under the surgeon’s knife to have a metal rod inserted yesterday.
A statement from the Parkhead club read: ‘Celtic Football Club has to report that, regrettably, Jonny Hayes suffered a broken leg during the game against Dundee at Dens Park.
‘Jonny had surgery today and will now be out for some time as he begins the long road back to full fitness. He will make a full recovery but he’s unlikely to feature again this season.
‘He will receive the best care and attention throughout the months ahead, while the thoughts and best wishes of everyone at Celtic and, indeed, the whole Celtic Family, are with Jonny.’
The injury comes as a huge blow to Hayes, whose Celtic career finally appeared to be getting off the ground after he started back-to-back games against his former club Aberdeen and Dundee, scoring his first Parkhead goal last Saturday.
With Patrick Roberts already facing a long spell on the sidelines, Rodgers hopes to have winger Scott Sinclair back fit for Saturday’s game with Rangers after the Englishman was left out of the 2-0 win in Tayside as a precaution.
James Forrest, meanwhile, insists that Celtic can reflect on a ‘perfect’ first half of the season if they beat Rangers on Saturday at Parkhead. Rodgers’ men may have lost their ‘invincible’ tag following the 4-0 loss at Tynecastle earlier this month but Forrest believes qualifying for the Europa League knockout stages arguably makes this season even more satisfying than last term’s all-conquering campaign. ‘Last year was great but this time we are still in Europe beyond Christmas,’ said Forrest, who scored the opening goal in the 2-0 victory at Dundee. ‘That is a big bonus and it is a big push when we go back because that is something else to look forward to. ‘Last season was incredible but now we have lost that game to Hearts. ‘But if we win on Saturday, it will have been the perfect first half to the season. ‘We just want to keep going. We have one last push on Saturday and we will give our all.’
Rodgers hasn’t lost any of his seven Old Firm games to date and nor does he intend trying something new at the weekend.
When Rangers last travelled across the city in March, some observers questioned why Graeme Murty was wasting his time doing so. The answer came by way of a gritty score-draw, a feat Pedro Caixinha’s desperate seven months in charge never witnessed.
That rare off day for Rodgers’ side must surely represent added incentive ahead of the weekend rematch.
‘No, because Rangers have good players and a good team,’ insisted Forrest. ‘We are not always going to win by a couple of goals. It is always going to be a hard game.
‘We know for 90 minutes it will be a hard game. We know in that game we weren’t at our best but we are confident after our results in the last few games. We will take that into Saturday.’
The results he cites since Tynecastle are comfortable wins against Partick Thistle, Aberdeen and Dundee, without a single goal being conceded.
There has been much to admire about Rodgers’ side over the course of those matches. Ominously for Rangers, the fatigue in evidence against Hearts has been conspicuous by its absence.
‘When we play at our best, then it will be hard for anyone,’ pledged Forrest. ‘But we need to start well and work hard. We know it will be tough but we will be ready.’
What has been indisputably the best season of Forrest’s career was garlanded with a 50th career goal at Dens Park.
‘I was told that and I am buzzing with that,’ he said of the milestone. ‘I want to score more goals for the team and, hopefully, I can keep doing what I have been doing.’
A first for him against Rangers on Saturday would certainly be welcome. It might even allow him to reflect on the first half of the campaign with a modicum of satisfaction.
‘There is still the same buzz as last season,’ said Forrest. ‘It is incredible. Players, staff and everyone connected with the club are all delighted with the way the first half of the season has gone.
‘We’ve hit all our goals so far and to finish it off with a win on Saturday would be great.’