How a moment of showboating brought Celtic star’s comeback to an abrupt halt as he lifts lid on injury ordeal

Celtic defender Dane Murray has opened up the bizarre training-ground mishap that resulted in a second devastating ACL injury, just weeks after making his long-awaited first-team return.

The 23-year-old centre-back has endured a hugely frustrating start to his professional career, with serious knee injuries repeatedly interrupting his development since making his senior debut under Ange Postecoglou in 2021.

After spending two extended periods on the sidelines, Murray had finally begun to make progress at Parkhead. The academy graduate has been enjoying an impressive spell in the first-team setup, registering six successive starts and beginning to show signs of establishing himself as a reliable option.

It follows on from an extraordinary incident that took place during a training session at Lennoxtown. Murray has now explained how an ambitious attempt to produce a moment of skill resulted with him suffering another ACL rupture.

Reflecting on the ordeal, he recalled: “I did the same knee back to back, pretty much. I had the first ACL, rehabbed for a year and did the second one a month after coming back. It was all very quick. The second recovery was probably easier than the first one because I knew what I was doing rehab-wise. I thought, ‘Okay, I have done this, I know I can get back’. It was about sticking with the programme.

“The second time, I was down the back pitch training at Lennoxtown and decided I was a winger for ten seconds. I went on a mazy and tried a Rabona. Honestly. I went down, got back up and thought, ‘This doesn’t feel right.’ That was it. I have never tried a Rabona again.”

Academy graduate explains how he refused to give up on his dream

The second injury meant Murray was once again facing a lengthy rehabilitation process, with the physical demands of recovery accompanied by the emotional turmoil of watching his teammates from the stands.

Quick to acknowledge the importance of his family and the support network at Celtic throughout what proved to be another challenging chapter, Murray also highlighted the role played by club physiotherapist Paul Griffin, with whom he developed a close relationship during his road to recovery.

“Every person is different,” he explained. “You really just have to want it. I was single-minded. I wanted to get back, put my boots on and get out playing. Every day in the gym, you are closed away and not part of the team. You have to think, ‘What is going to help me get back to where I want to be?’.

“Being a professional is always what I have wanted to do, so that was in my mind from the start. There are always going to be bumps along the way. Only special cases keep going up from a young age. It’s never going to be easy.”

Fortunately for Murray, that determination has begun to deliver rewards. Having fought his way through two significant periods of rehab, the defender was handed an extended opportunity in the Celtic starting XI under Martin O’Neill, making six consecutive stars before Cameron Carter-Vickers returned to full fitness.

*The Scottish Football Social Club is presented by BetSBK.com | 18+ | Gamble Responsibly