Agathe injury a massive blow, says O’Neill

MARTIN O’NEILL has said the loss of Didier Agathe was massive on a day of mixed feelings at Parkhead.

Celtic were buoyed just days before the start of the UEFA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool with Henrik Larsson declaring himself fit to play after over a month on the sidelines.

But those feelings were tempered yesterday with the news everyone inside Parkhead was fearing, that Agathe faces four to six weeks on the sidelines after a scan showed a hamstring tear.

“Didier has been back to his best recently,” said O’Neill.

“In our European matches he has been especially terrific for us. It is an absolutely massive blow for us and there is no doubt that we could have done with him against Liverpool on Thursday night.

Bobby Petta became the latest injury victim after suffering a ligament strain in his right shoulder.

The Dutch winger played for 68 minutes of Celtic’s U21 win at Easter Road on Monday night, but an awkward fall after being fouled has left him on the sidelines alongside Agathe and Magnus Hedman.

Agathe’s injury is a huge blow after Larsson told Martin O’Neill he was ready to gun down Liverpool in the first leg at Parkhead.

The 43-goal former Swedish international striker has been out of action since suffering a double fracture of the jaw over a month ago.

But he has stepped up his efforts in training to convince his manager that he would not be a risk if he was thrown straight back into action.

“I have done two training sessions and I have not got any reactions so everything feels okay. Meanwhile Gerard Houllier believes Liverpool’s return to winning ways will be vitally important at Celtic Park.

Houllier’s Reds have endured a miserable time for much of the season but victory in the Worthington Cup final against Manchester United, and a good Premiership win against Bolton at the weekend, has given Liverpool hope that their season has finally turned around.

Houllier is aware that the reigning Scottish champions have an awesome record in front of their own fans with an unbeaten sequence stretching back 48 matches.

Liverpool will be without Emile Heskey and Stephane Henchoz for the match, but Steven Gerrard is expected to return after missing the match against Bolton at the weekend.