Source: FOOTYMAD
Not good news for Maloney
Surgery rules out Shaun for four months Shaun Maloney will be unavailable for selection for up to four months following ankle surgery. Manager Neil Lennon also revealed that defender Glenn Loovens would be missing for a month with a medial knee ligament injury. Maloney suffered the injury in the early stages of Celtic's 2-2 draw against Inverness on 27 November when he had a close-range shot smothered by Ryan Esson, limping off moments later. Lennon said: "He had surgery on Monday. It was a simple procedure but he will be out for a length of time. We are looking between three and four months. It's a huge blow for us and obviously a huge blow for the player." The injury is the latest in a long line to hit Maloney, who had been wearing the Celtic armband while Scott Brown recovers from a broken metatarsal. Maloney did not play after October last season after being struck by an tendonitis problem in his ankle before suffering a number of niggling injuries. He also missed four months of the previous season with a persistent hamstring problem. Lennon added: "He was starting to show his best form this season. He had a horrendous run of injuries in the previous season. It is frustrating obviously because he worked very, very hard to get back to full fitness when he has been out. This is not a soft tissue injury, it is a trauma that he picked up against Inverness. It was early in the game as well and on conclusion it was decided that surgery was required." Loovens has not featured since the Co-operative Insurance Cup victory over St Johnstone in October after paying the price for some defensive errors. Lennon revealed the Dutchman would be missing for a month with an injury picked up in training.
