Source: Team_Talk
Long spell out for Hoops ace Hinkel
Celtic defender Andreas Hinkel has been ruled out for nine months with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, the SPL giants have confirmed.[LNB] The German right-back picked up the injury at training on Tuesday and will have to undergo an operation.[LNB]Hinkel was not included in Neil Lennon's Europa League squad and would not have played against FC Utrecht in the first leg of their play-off at Parkhead.[LNB]The Hoops boss had indicated during the summer that recent signing Cha Du-Ri was his first-choice right-back.[LNB]Hinkel, who joined Celtic in January 2008 from Spanish side Sevilla, is one of the higher earners at Parkhead and in the final year of his contract.[LNB]The former Stuttgart player was expected to be sold to free up money to allow Lennon to further refurbish his squad.[LNB]A statement on Celtic's official website read: "It is with great regret that Celtic Football Club announces that, after an accident in training, Andreas Hinkel has suffered significant injury to his right knee.[LNB]"It has been confirmed after MRI scans as a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament.[LNB]"Andreas will be referred for the appropriate investigation and assessment.[LNB]"He will require surgery and could be out for a period of up to nine months.[LNB]"Clearly this is very sad news for Andreas and he will be receiving every support from the club."
