Arzani upbeat after ACL surgery

Socceroos winger Daniel Arzani has gone under the knife in Spain after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.

Daniel Arzani playing for the Socceroos against Denmark during the FIFA World Cup in June. Picture: Toby Zerna

Socceroos winger Daniel Arzani has gone under the knife in Spain after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament during his senior debut for Scottish side Celtic.

The 19-year-old appeared to come out of surgery not long after Australia beat Lebanon 3-0 at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium on Tuesday night in their final hitout before next year’s Asian Cup. Arzani will play no part in the Socceroos’ 2015 title defence in the UAE and is likely to have nine months of rehabilitation.

But the teenage sensation can’t wait to begin his road to recovery. “Surgery done and dusted, so so so keen to get started,” he posted on Instagram from his Barcelona hospital bed.

Arzani’s performances at the World Cup in Russia helped score him a high-profile move to Manchester City before joining fellow Socceroo Tom Rogic at Celtic on a two-year loan.

AAP