Fears for Daniel Arzani as Celtic debut ends in injury disaster
Related Story: Socceroos phenom Arzani signs for Man City, expected to join Celtic on loan
Socceroos fans will hold their breath as they await news on rising star Daniel Arzani, who was stretchered from the field with a knee injury only 20 minutes into his senior debut with Scottish club Celtic.
Arzani was handed his long-awaited debut as a 57th-minute substitute in Celtic's 5-0 win over Dundee, but the former Melbourne City flyer collapsed to the turf after trying to turn sharply on the 80-minute mark.
The Australian was carried off the field, and despite Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers' initially optimistic comments, there are fears the injury could be serious.
Reports suggest Arzani may have torn his ACL, which would mean an absence of at least nine months and would rule him out of Australia's upcoming Asian Cup campaign, but further clarity will be offered by scans in the next 24 hours.
Arzani had made a particularly bright start to his senior debut in Scotland, and ought to have had an assist when a trademark jinking run and driven cross found Kieran Tierney, who was unable to convert a simple chance at the back post.
The brief cameo by Arzani impressed his manager, who will no doubt be hoping it's not the last he sees of him in action in the near future.
"Arzani is a great boy and it's unfortunate he picked up the injury with a run in the game," he said.
"He certainly is happy to take the ball, he has confidence, he's a Celtic player in terms of, he wants to beat people and wants to be aggressive.
"I think his knee just sort of gave way and he felt it a bit unstable.
"He was taking the applause on the way out, so I'm not sure how sore it was. I don't think it was killing him."
The game was a milestone match for fellow Socceroo Tom Rogic, who celebrated his 150th appearance for the Hoops with a fantastically taken goal from distance.
[contf]
[contfnew]
ABC .net
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]
