Kris Ajer is hopeful that he’ll be back in action before the end of the year.
The Celtic defender had surgery on a broken eye socket on Wednesday after picking up the injury in the 0-0 draw at Livingston.
Most fans expected Ajer to be out of action until 2019 but after speaking with the surgeon that performed the operation he is hopeful of a minimal lay-off.
“Everything went well and I can start working out again in a week,” the young Norwegian told The Sun. “All I need to be careful about at first is that I avoid contact exercises.
“The plan is that I can play football again in four to six weeks. There were three fractures and titanium plates were put in.
“The surgeon operated the tear through the mouth, fixed the fracture over the eye by cutting a bit of the eyebrow.
“Then he had to lower under the eyelid to fix the fracture under the eye.”
The description of the injury leaves nothing to the imagination with the extent of the damage immediately obvious during the Livi match.
Ajer had came in to replace Filip Benkovic who will now be required alongside Dedryck Boyata for Celtic’s extensive December schedule.
As well as his club commitments, including a trip home to face Rosenborg, Ajer will miss out on two international caps over the coming week.
With injury savaging his squad Brendan Rodgers will be delighted if he has the Ajer back available before the end of the year.
