Celtic face another problem at right back after Colby Donovan was stretchered off during Scotland U21’s narrow win over Gibraltar. The defender had been one of the brighter performers on the night, settling into the game quickly and pushing Scotland up the park during a strong first half.
The incident came early in the second half. With Scotland holding a one goal lead and controlling the tempo, Donovan suddenly collapsed to the turf without any obvious contact. The reaction from the Scotland bench told its own story. Medical staff rushed on immediately and it was clear he wouldn’t be able to continue. After a brief assessment, he was taken from the pitch on a stretcher and moved straight toward the ambulance on site.
For Celtic, the timing could hardly be worse. Alistair Johnston is already out for an extended spell and Anthony Ralston has been nursing issues of his own. Donovan had stepped into that gap with real purpose, impressing former Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers in training originally, and looking increasingly ready for more minutes. His withdrawal for Scotland now leaves the position even lighter as the club heads into an important run of fixtures.
The mood around the squad after the match was one of concern, and understandably so. Donovan has built momentum this season and Scotland U21 boss Scott Gemmill spoke about how the young defender was coping after the scare. While the manager couldn’t offer a full diagnosis, he did provide the first indication of where the problem may lie.
He said: (The Scottish Mail on Sunday), “I don’t know the full extent of it. I just know he was taken to the hospital because the ambulance was here.
“So it’s a case of wait and see, but he’s in good spirits and hopefully it was just precautionary.
“It’s my understanding the injury was around his ankle area.”
Those initial comments give Celtic supporters some hope, especially the part about Donovan being in good spirits. Still, an ankle issue can mean anything from a minor twist to something that keeps a player out for weeks, and the fact he couldn’t walk off under his own power means the club will want proper scans before drawing any conclusions. The medical team at Lennoxtown will run their own checks once he returns to Glasgow.
This development also forces Celtic to rethink their plans for the next stretch. O’Neill had been preparing to keep Donovan involved, especially with the depth chart at right back already stretched thin. Simply put, it’s clear that losing the youngster for even a short period would put added pressure on a defence that has been shuffled far too often this season.
Donovan’s attitude has been praised regularly, and the expectation is he’ll attack his recovery with the same focus he brings to his performances.
The hope now is that Gemmill’s instinct proves correct and that the hospital trip was mostly precautionary. Celtic will be desperate for positive news as the squad braces for a packed schedule.
The club are expected to provide an update once medical results are confirmed. Until then, it’s a waiting game, and O’Neill or Wilfried Nancy will be planning for all scenarios as Celtic look to navigate yet another injury concern in a position that has already taken too many hits this year.
