Potentially my last game- watch Schmeichel’s live TV announcement

Kasper Schmeichel has admitted that his playing career is almost certainly over.

The 39-year-old requires two operations on his shoulder which will required 10-12 months of rehab.

Schmeichel compared his complex shoulder injury to an outfield player undergoing ACL and Achilles surgery at the same time.

At the age of 39 no player would be considering a return to action after that level of surgery.

Schmeichel injured his shoulder a year ago on international duty for Denmark but returned to playing before the end of the season.

SCHMEICHEL FACING THE END

His performance in the Scottish Cup Final defeat to Aberdeen raised concerns but this season he has been first pick at Celtic under three different managers.

A knock-on injury seemed to surface in the 4-1 defeat from Stuttgart on February 19. Three days later he appeared against Hibs in what now looks like his last ever appearance.

Schmeichel said:

I was at a specialist yesterday and basically I’m going to need two surgeries now to fix my shoulder which is a bit of a body blow.

It’s a torn bicep, I’ve torn the rotator cuff, dislocated the shoulder, torn the labrum – torn everything.

To be maybe put it into terms you’d maybe understand, it’s like an outfield player doing their ACL and their Achilles at the same time.

It’s looking like 10-12 months of rehab. It’s been a strange few days.

CBS presenter Kate Scott asked: “You are smiling, but how do you really feel about that?”

Schmeichel admitted:

I was told yesterday. I don’t really know anything right now, in the sense that you don’t know how to react to this.

I could have potentially played my last ever football game. I have been a  footballer  since the day I was born. That kind of thought is devastating.

It’s very, very hard to wrap my head around, at the moment.

All of this came out after Real Madrid’s victory over Manchester City.

Normally being on media duty for that sort of event would be a nice perk but the Celtic keeper had bigger issues on his mind, adding:

It was a tough night. We were stood there, I was looking at the keepers warming up and thinking that I might never get to do that again and so in that sense it was a tough night, very emotional.

As much as you guys have been  nice, I haven’t enjoyed a single minute of it in that sense because you’re looking at what could be waiting for you – not that it’s not good in other ways, but I’ve been a footballer ever since I can remember, and to think that I might not be able to do that again – that’s tough.

Between the lines Schmeichel said almost everything just short of ‘It’s over’.

Clearly he has been short of 100% fitness since picking up his injury against Portugal a year ago.

Major surgery with six months or more out of action for a 38 or 39-year-old is as close as you get to being forced into retIral.

ONE DOOR CLOSES, ANOTHER OPENS

Schmeichel has been fighting against that message with a World Cup Finals farewell the ideal scenario.

Last season the Dane was one of the key players as Celtic shone on the Champions League, impressing in 10 appearances of the new look competition.

This season has been a different story. Celtic are fortunate to have had a deputy as able as Vil Sinisalo to step in.

The former Aston Villa keeper has played in Celtic’s last five matches, bringing a fresh confidence to the hoops defence.

Schmeichel is out of contract at Celtic in three months with the ball in the club’s court as they handle a delicate issue.

CLICK HERE for Schmeichel profile including 39 appearances thisseason.