Huge blow to Celtic in title race as Beram Kayal’s season is over

The news, which came after the Israeli had surgery on the cartilage and ligament damage to his ankle he sustained in a tackle with Rangers Lee McCulloch a fortnight ago, is a massive blow to Celtic manager Neil Lennon as he tries to maintain his team’s lead in the SPL title race.

Lennon described Kayal’s absence as a “big loss” but added that he will not be seeking to bring in cover for Kayal.

“This is very sad news for Beram,” the Celtic manager said. “He has been brilliant for us and instrumental in our performances during the season.

“He will definitely be a big loss for us, but more importantly we are disappointed for him to be missing such a large part of the season at a time when he was playing so well.”

Kayal has previously suffered with a hernia problem and a broken wrist since signing for Celtic from Maccabi Haifa 18 months ago, and Lennon added: “Clearly his health and fitness is now our priority and we will be making sure he gets our total support during the coming period.”

For his part, Kayal is refusing to give up on playing some further part this season.

The initial prognosis of an absence of four months after the Old Firm game on 28 December 28 would have raised the possibility of the midfielder returning for the title run-in.

And the 23-year-old seems to be clinging to the hope that he could yet play some part for Celtic.

He said: “They said the operation was successful and now I’m waiting to start the rehabilitation process.

“The doctor and the specialist met with me this morning and told me it went well. The timing is not good for me after we got back into first place in the league so spectacularly.

“In the past, I have returned stronger than before and I believe this will happen now too. I can’t wait to start the rehabilitation process and to get back playing quicker than people think I will be back.”

Lennon does have at least two influential performers suited to the midfield anchor role previously performed by Kayal. In all, eight internationalists will be vying for four midfield slots, with Paddy McCourt added to those on the flanks.

Kenyan Victor Wanyama has already impressed as an aggressive player, able to break up play in a similar fashion to Kayal.

And Lennon stated last week that he belives Scott Brown, now restored to full fitness after three months out, is better at performing such functions than many tend to think.

Joe Ledley and Ki Sung-Yeung are further central midfielders, while the returning Kris Commons, as well Georgios Samaras and James Forrest, will be rivals for the left and right flanks.

So, although Celtic do not urgently require more midfielders, they continue to evaluate possible signings.

Yesterday, 18-year-old Icelandic winger Ingolfur Sigurdson and Nigerian Rabiu Ibrahim, a 20-year-old attacking midfielder released by PSV Eindhoven last year, played as trialists in a bounce game against St Johnstone, which Celtic won 3-2. Both players will continue to train with the club this week.

Sigurdson, an under-21 internationalist previous linked with Arsenal and Manchester United, has 18 months remaining on his contract with Valur but could move as a free agent.

“He’s an extremely skilful left winger,” said his representative Olafur Gardarsson. “Quite a few clubs want to have a look at him. After his trial with Celtic we have arranged for him to go to Denmark and spend a few days with Lyngby.”

Meanwhile, the Celtic manager, who stated recently it would be not be a “disaster” if his club did not make any signings in this window, admitted there was a possibility of pursuing an interest in Rapid Vienna striker Hamdi Salihi.

The Albanian, who has scored 46 goals in his two seasons with Rapid but has dropped to the bench this season, could be available for around £500,000 with his contract expiring in the summer. The 27-year-old and current Rangers frontman Nikica Jelavic scored for Rapid in a 3-3 Europa League draw against Celtic in December 2009. Salihi is understood to be down the pecking order of Celtic transfer window targets but the reality is that a number of those higher on Lennon’s wish-list may require prohibitive transfer fees.

“He is a player we have known about since the [Nikica] Jelavic days,” Lennon said. “He is a good player, and we now what he can do.”