Celtic may send star for new scan after injury blow as Parkhead pal's progress talked up by international boss
A pair of Celtic talents have been on Scotland U21s duty this week.
A Celtic talent could be set for another scan after an international duty injury - as the progress of his pal at Parkhead is given big licks.
Scotland’s U21s won a UEFA Euro U21s qualifier away at Gibraltar last week but it came at a cost for right-back Colby Donovan, who was stretchered off. The incident occurred just minutes into the second half in worrying scenes for Celtic, who are already dealing with injury issues to first-choice right-back Alistair Johnston.
Donovan has broken into the team amid his issues to compete with Anthony Ralston while injuries have also hit Kelechi Iheanacho, Marcelo Saracchi, Callum Osmand, Cameron Carter-Vickers and long-term absentee Jota. U21s boss Scot Gemmill says the defender’s scans came back clear but Celtic could look to do their own digging to try and clear up what the issue was.
Celtic injury update on star
The boss said: “He’s gone back to his club. We arrived at 5 o’clock on Sunday, but he has gone back to Celtic. He’s too sore to play, but the X-ray was clear. The level of care he got in Gibraltar was fantastic, as he went straight to the hospital, straight in for an X-ray, and actually back in the hotel in time to eat his dinner.
“I think with those injuries, you just can’t take any risk. It was clear that he couldn’t continue. Hopefully, his ankle can settle down quickly – there's a chance that Celtic may choose to do their own scan, but that’s obviously a decision they’ll make.”
Another Celtic player who featured in the game is Kyle Ure, who is out on loan with Hoops hero Scott Brown’s Ayr United. He created an assist for James Wilson’s opener in the 2-0 win at Gibraltar and Gemmill has been impressed by what Ure has produced in navy.
How is Kyle Ure performing at Ayr United?
The Brown factor at Ayr has opened up a transfer opportunity that the Scotland youth boss reckons has helped shows his high ceiling. Gemmill said ahead of Tuesday’s qualifier at Fir Park versus Bulgaria: “If you saw the Gibraltar game at home, he completely ran the game and that was a real big moment for him. I think everybody knows he can do that and he's shown he can do that for Celtic’s B team for example.
“I think it's the same as all the young players, they have to show it at different levels. His pass completion against Gibraltar at home must have been almost close to perfect and then Azerbaijan away was different in terms of a little bit of a step up in opposition and different circumstances, different game.
“I think then the most recent game in Gibraltar, really tight game, somebody needed to unlock the door and he had the capacity to do that so I think there's been really encouraging signs for him. I think Scott's used his influence to get him, quite rightly, but I know he's really, really highly regarded. He's keen to push on so it's another good opportunity to do that against a good team.