Kennedy KO confirmed

Celtic defender John Kennedy was today facing up to the possibility of a year out of the game after suffering ligament damage to his knee injury on his Scotland debut.

The 20-year-old was the victim of a crunching tackle by Wolves striker Vio Ganea just 14 minutes into the defeat against Romania at Hampden Park on Wednesday night.

Kennedy was stretchered off and the club feared ligament damage, which was confirmed last tonight.

A statement on the club’s official website, www.celticfc.net, read: “MRI scans have shown that John has sustained multiple injuries to his left knee, which includes damage to his cruciate and lateral ligaments.

“He will require surgery and could be out for at least a year.”

It is desperate luck for a player who has impressed in recent weeks for the Bank of Scotland Premier League champions-elect.

Kennedy feared the worst. He said: “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.”