GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - APRIL 19: St Mirren's Ryan Mullen is forced off with a first half injury during a Scottish Gas Scottish Cup semi-final match between Celtic and St Mirren at Barclays Hampden, on April 19, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Ryan Mullen is facing a year out of football.
That is the likely outcome following initial scans on the injury that he picked up in the early stages of the Scottish Cup defeat from Celtic.
Mullen has been the target for pathetic online abuse with the hard of thinking out in force.
Mullen was a youth team player at Celtic, leaving the club in 2022.
Since then he has worked his way upwards in football through Clyde and Morton to St Mirren.
After a League Cup debut against Annan in July he played for half an hour against Falkirk in January then came off the bench in the 32nd minute last week at Celtic Park.
Mullen kept a clean sheet. An unfortunate FACT! missed by many.
True he had a howler conceding a goal to Celtic in the first minute of Sunday’s semi-final.
It is a modern trait. Goalkeepers take too many touches on the ball these days.
Vil Sinisalo got away with it twice on Sunday. Gianluigi Donnarumma of Manchester City didn’t.
After 15 minutes on Sunday Mullen’s race was run. He was injured.
MULLEN FACES UP TO LONG JOURNEY BACK
The brain dead were out in force. Cowardice was one of the more diplomatic phrases used. Totally wrong.
Initial scans have revealed a Grade 4 tear of his quadricep. It could be a year out as the muscle slowly heals.
Physio-pedia describes it as:
The quadriceps femoris is a hip flexor and a knee extensor. It consists of four individual muscles; three vastus muscles and the rectus femoris. They form the main bulk of the thigh, and collectively are one of the most powerful muscles in the body.
It takes tremendous courage and dedication to be a goalie at any level ???? pic.twitter.com/qbGlI3ZviV
— Tò? U???? (@CartoonLunch) April 20, 2026
A year out of football when you are approaching 25 will feel like a lifetime. More so as a goalkeeper.
His summer holiday will be spent thinking ‘if only’. He won’t be put through the grind of pre-season training. Fresh pitches, pre-season friendlies, League Cup ties.
Mullen’s misfortune thrust 17-year-old Grant Tamosevicius into his senior debut.
Until the first period of extra-time the teenager coped well. Then Celtic found another gear.
The idiots online don’t deserve any additional attention. Any player facing a year out and an uncertain future deserves support and respect.
? “I think Ryan just pulls his quad straight away, so he tells us, just don’t pass it back.”
Alex Gogic explains Ryan Mullen advised team-mates of injury after error in Scottish Cup semi-final.
Called out ‘disgusting negativity or accusations’?
?https://t.co/n0Uq6MM2BA pic.twitter.com/yffzYvxt2L
— David Irvine (@divirvine) April 21, 2026
It’ll be his ex Celtic connection that’s inviting the abuse from the gutter level ba*tards levelling it at him !
Get well soon Ryan Mullen and ignore the scum that try to deride you.
ALL genuine, decent, understanding supporters just wish you well in your recovery and deeply feel for you regarding your recent, horrid experience at Hampden.
Chin up Pal, Fuck The Huns!