3-4 weeks: Rodgers dealt fresh injury blow
Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Celtic v Aberdeen - Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - July 31, 2022 Celtic players in a huddle before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Luis Palma is facing three to four months out of action according to a media release from the Honduran FA.
The winger was an unused substitute when Celtic lost 2-0 away to Hearts then missed the Scottish Cup tie against Livingston after picking up a knock in training.
Palma was expected to miss Saturday’s match at home to St Johnstone but was then expected to report for international duty with Honduras.
That now won’t be the case with The Herald reporting a very detailed media release from the Honduran FA:
The translated Honduras national team statement read: “The Honduran Football Federation informs the Honduran fans and sports press that the player Luis Palma has been withdrawn due to medical incapacity from his call to the national team led by Professor Reinaldo Rueda.
“According to the information received at the FENAFUTH General Secretariat, the medical department of Celtic FC, the club to which the player belongs, indicates that magnetic resonance studies were performed on the selected Palma who presented muscle discomfort in his right leg.
“The imaging study confirms the presence of a low-grade muscle lesion in the proximal third of the right soleus, which, in accordance with the clinical tests performed and correlation with the imaging studies, formulates the following diagnosis: Grade I muscle injury of the proximal third of the right soleus at the myotendinous junction according to the Prakash and UEFA ECIS classification.
“According to the medical department of the Honduran national team and evaluating all the clinical information supported by images sent by their Celtic FC counterparts, it is estimated that the national team will maintain a rehabilitation period of 3 to 4 weeks to return to competition.
“FENAFUTH wishes Luis Palma a speedy recovery and reiterates its commitment to the health and well-being of all the national team players.”
Palma has dropped out of favour over the last month but his statistics for goals and assists this season make him an important part of Brendan Rodgers’ squad.
With Liel Abada sold to Charlotte FC and Yang Hyun-jun suspended for tomorrow’s match it looks certain that Daizen Maeda and Nicolas Kuhn will start against St Johnstone with James Forrest and Ricco Vata as back up options.