Calf concern rules out Thompson
Tuesday, October 28, 2003
Article summary
Celtic FC's Alan Thompson has been ruled out of next week's match against RSC Anderlecht with a calf injury.
Article body
'Serious blow'
The 29-year-old had a scan after sustaining the injury in Saturday's 4-0 league victory against Aberdeen FC. Manager Martin O'Neill expects him to be missing for two weeks. "Alan had a terrific last season for us and then picked up exactly where he left off when we started the new campaign," said O'Neill. "He is a very influential player for us and there is no doubt that his injury is a serious blow."
Tight section
Unbeaten Celtic are top of the Scottish Premier League but bottom of Champions League Group A. However, their three-point tally leaves them just two points adrift of leaders FC Bayern München and one behind Olympique Lyonnais and Anderlect, who beat Celtic 1-0 in Belgium last week, in what is the tightest of the eight group-stage pools.
International hopes
The injury has also ended Thompson's hopes of winning a place in England's squad for their international friendly with Denmark on 16 November at Old Trafford. England assistant manager Tord Grip said he would watch the in-form left-sided player but is likely to use the Anderlecht game to check on the form of Celtic's other England hopeful, Chris Sutton.
