Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has publicly questioned whether goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was entirely honest with the club regarding a severe shoulder injury that now threatens to end his career. The Parkhead boss admitted he was taken completely by surprise when the Danish international announced on television this week that he requires two surgeries, potentially sidelining him for up to a year.
Surprise Announcement and Severity of Injury
O'Neill revealed he had no prior knowledge of the bombshell news before Schmeichel's televised interview. "I was surprised the announcement had been made and the severity of it," O'Neill stated bluntly. "From the previous scans that we'd done, I never thought we were dealing with a career-threatening injury."
The 39-year-old goalkeeper initially hurt his shoulder during a Nations League match against Portugal approximately one year ago. Despite this, Schmeichel played through the pain, receiving injections to participate in crucial matches for Celtic this season. His form has been inconsistent, with notable errors including a costly mistake in the Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen and conceding two soft goals against Stuttgart, which led to boos from some supporters.
Transparency and Contractual Concerns
When directly asked if Schmeichel had been truthful with Celtic about his condition, O'Neill responded, "Only Kasper would know that." The manager expressed clear irritation that the player chose to disclose the injury via his role as a television analyst rather than informing the club first. "If that was the first announcement, I would have preferred to hear it myself," O'Neill remarked, adding, "Back in my time, if you didn't report it to the football club first, you could get a fine. I might have to go and check his contract."
O'Neill acknowledged that the club was aware Schmeichel was undergoing tests, but the rapid development of the situation caught him off guard. "It happened rather quickly, and sometimes I can be incommunicado, not wanting to hear some news," he explained, highlighting his disappointment at learning the full extent through media channels.
Reactions and Rehabilitation Plans
Celtic legend Chris Sutton has accused Schmeichel of being "selfish" for focusing solely on his international prospects with Denmark in the interview, without mentioning Celtic. O'Neill downplayed this criticism, stating, "Chris is entitled to his own opinion, but it's no serious issue for me. I don't know whether he's in the position to know that it was all about Denmark."
Despite the controversy, O'Neill confirmed that Schmeichel will remain at Lennoxtown for rehabilitation as his contract winds down. "We have no problem rehabbing him here," the manager assured. "I have no problem with him being around here."
Other Injury Updates
In related news, O'Neill has advised full-back Alistair Johnston to continue his recovery from hamstring surgery at Lennoxtown rather than joining the Canada national team for friendlies. Johnston, who returned to training this week, has been out since October, and O'Neill believes his time is better spent working towards a first-team return in Scotland. "We at this minute would probably prefer him to stay," O'Neill said.
Additionally, O'Neill revealed that captain Callum McGregor is expected to return to action against Dundee United on Sunday, providing a positive update amid the injury concerns surrounding Schmeichel.
