Post by Taxigirl on Apr 3, 2004 9:59:58 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/scotland/3588887.stm
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill is furious at the tackle he feels could have ended young defender John Kennedy's career.
Kennedy will travel to Colorado in the United States this weekend for surgery on his injured left knee.
The player faces a year out after suffering knee ligament damage in a challenge by Romanian striker Vio Ganea on his Scotland debut on Wednesday.
"It is a massive blow for John and Celtic," said O'Neill on Friday.
A statement on the Celtic website said: "MRI scans have shown that John has sustained multiple injuries to his left knee, which includes damage to his cruciate and lateral ligaments."
And O'Neill followed that by refusing to accept Ganea's apology for the dangerous challenge.
"I don't know about John, but that doesn't mean a great deal to myself," he said.
"It's alright coming out with an apology afterwards, but the lad's career is in jeopardy.
"I think it's too easy for players to come and say sorry, but at the end of the day the lunge was utterly uncalled for."
Scotland Under-21 captain Kennedy was stretchered off at Hampden after just 14 minutes, having been drafted into the senior squad after impressive performances against Barcelona and Rangers in recent weeks.
"He's gone from the biggest high imaginable of the Nou Camp, then Rangers and then a Scotland debut to being cut down like this," said O'Neill.
"It is a terrible blow for him and overshadows everything else in the last week or so.
"At the moment, we are all pretty devastated. This is the worst possible news."
Kennedy will be in good hands as he goes under the knife of top surgeon Richard Steadman in Colorado early next week.
The renowned specialist has already saved the careers of Alan Shearer and Brazilian superstar Ronaldo.
But O'Neill said: "Roddy Macdonald, the doctor, wouldn't even remotely think about him for a full year.
"It needs a total reconstruction of the knee so that will take some length of time."
O'Neill was also angry that the injury occurred during a "meaningless friendly" and said: "I have never known so many free weekends being taken up by international matches."
Kennedy's contract was due for renewal and O'Neill said a new deal would not be jeopardised by the injury.
The player himself had earlier told the Sun newspaper: "Everything has been going brilliantly for me in the last few weeks, so this is pretty devastating.
"I saw the boy coming towards me and at the time I didn't think he was going for the ball.
"I'm not happy about it, but there's not much I can do now.
"It was fantastic to have been picked for my country, but now I'm just totally gutted."
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill is furious at the tackle he feels could have ended young defender John Kennedy's career.
Kennedy will travel to Colorado in the United States this weekend for surgery on his injured left knee.
The player faces a year out after suffering knee ligament damage in a challenge by Romanian striker Vio Ganea on his Scotland debut on Wednesday.
"It is a massive blow for John and Celtic," said O'Neill on Friday.
A statement on the Celtic website said: "MRI scans have shown that John has sustained multiple injuries to his left knee, which includes damage to his cruciate and lateral ligaments."
And O'Neill followed that by refusing to accept Ganea's apology for the dangerous challenge.
"I don't know about John, but that doesn't mean a great deal to myself," he said.
"It's alright coming out with an apology afterwards, but the lad's career is in jeopardy.
"I think it's too easy for players to come and say sorry, but at the end of the day the lunge was utterly uncalled for."
Scotland Under-21 captain Kennedy was stretchered off at Hampden after just 14 minutes, having been drafted into the senior squad after impressive performances against Barcelona and Rangers in recent weeks.
"He's gone from the biggest high imaginable of the Nou Camp, then Rangers and then a Scotland debut to being cut down like this," said O'Neill.
"It is a terrible blow for him and overshadows everything else in the last week or so.
"At the moment, we are all pretty devastated. This is the worst possible news."
Kennedy will be in good hands as he goes under the knife of top surgeon Richard Steadman in Colorado early next week.
The renowned specialist has already saved the careers of Alan Shearer and Brazilian superstar Ronaldo.
But O'Neill said: "Roddy Macdonald, the doctor, wouldn't even remotely think about him for a full year.
"It needs a total reconstruction of the knee so that will take some length of time."
O'Neill was also angry that the injury occurred during a "meaningless friendly" and said: "I have never known so many free weekends being taken up by international matches."
Kennedy's contract was due for renewal and O'Neill said a new deal would not be jeopardised by the injury.
The player himself had earlier told the Sun newspaper: "Everything has been going brilliantly for me in the last few weeks, so this is pretty devastating.
"I saw the boy coming towards me and at the time I didn't think he was going for the ball.
"I'm not happy about it, but there's not much I can do now.
"It was fantastic to have been picked for my country, but now I'm just totally gutted."