Celtic skipper Brown faces 10 weeks out

13 October 2010 16:30

Scott Brown does not need surgery on his broken foot but the Celtic captain still faces up to 10 weeks on the sidelines.

Celtic announced on Friday that the Scotland midfielder would be out for at least six weeks, and possibly more, with a stress reaction in a metatarsal on his right foot.

A visit to a specialist has on Wednesday allayed fears he would need surgery, which would have kept him out for about three months. But a statement on www.celticfc.net added: "However, with the extra rehabilitation work required, the midfielder is likely to be out for eight to 10 weeks."

Brown had already been ruled out of the first Old Firm derby of the season at Celtic Park on October 24.

But he should be firmly back in action before the second Clydesdale Bank Premier League meeting of the season against Rangers on January 2.

The former Hibernian player has joined fellow central midfielder Beram Kayal on the sidelines with the Israel international set for a similar spell out after being told he needed hernia surgery.

The injuries could revive the Parkhead career of Marc Crosas, who made his first SPL appearance of the season when he came off the bench in the 3-1 victory over Hamilton in Celtic`s most recent match.

Despite being left out of Celtic's 25-man European squad earlier in the season, Crosas insists he has not let his spirits drop while playing alongside the club's youngsters in friendlies for Danny McGrain's development squad.

"That's my job, it's what I am getting paid for and it's what I love to do," Crosas told the Huddle Online. "There is no point being in a bad mood or not trying to do what I have to do."

"I need to be ready to take any opportunity, although it's sad if that opportunity comes from one of your team-mates getting injured. But I would be wrong to think that, just because we have two important midfielders injured, that I'm going to play."

Source: PA