Izaguirre faces 4-6 months out
Celtic left-back Emilio Izaguirre will be out of action for between four and six months after fracturing his right ankle during today’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League victory at Aberdeen.
The Honduran was carried off on a stretcher after going down in agony following a sliding challenge from Peter Pawlett.
Hoops boss Neil Lennon revealed tests had shown up a fracture, with the club later confirming it would require surgery.
A statement on Celtic's website tonight read: ``Emilio Izaguirre will be out of action for between four to six months after suffering a fracture to his right ankle.
“The Honduran defender was injured during the first half of Celtic’s match against Aberdeen at Pittodrie today, which the Hoops won 1-0 thanks to an Anthony Stokes goal.
“Following an investigation in hospital, the club can confirm that Emilio has a fracture to his right ankle which will require surgery. This will be carried out later this week and Emilio will be out of action for between four to six months.
“The thoughts of the Celtic family are with Emilio and everyone wishes him a speedy recovery from injury.”
The injury happened when the 25-year-old fell awkwardly following the challenge early in the game.
Manager Neil Lennon said after the game: “It’s a huge blow for us to lose him and we don’t know how long he is going to be out for.
“He is being assessed at the minute and we’ll know whether he requires surgery and, if he does, he will be out for three months anyway.”
Lennon held his head in his hands when he was told the initial diagnosis that Izaguirre had suffered a suspected fracture.
“You can always tell by a player’s reaction and Emilio is not a player to feign injury,” the Northern Irishman said.
“So the concern was immediate and he was taken into the dressing room and looked at and the word came out it was a fracture.”
Lennon was already missing defenders Thomas Rogne, Glenn Loovens and Mark Wilson through injury, although the latter is due back from a groin injury for next week’s SPL clash with Dundee United.
Celtic ended up with Adam Matthews and Charlie Mulgrew in the full-back positions and Lennon may look to bring in reinforcements.
“We might have to look for another left-back,” Lennon said.
The Hoops are currently in the transfer market for a goalkeeper with a deal for Poland international Grzegorz Sandomierski coming to fruition.
Celtic have been in negotiations with the 21-year-old’s club, Jagiellonia Bialystok.
“I’m not sure if it’s a done deal, I haven’t spoken to Peter today, but we might be further down the line with that one,” Lennon said. “He’s a goalkeeper we do like and we feel he has huge potential.”
