Daniel Arzani a doubt for Asian Cup after injury mars Celtic win

Daniel Arzani’s debut for Celtic ended in disaster with the teenager set to spend some time on the injury list.

Celtic’s Daniel Arzani is stretchered off after suffering an injury against Dundee. Picture: Jeff Holmes/PA Wire

Daniel Arzani’s debut for Celtic ended in disaster, with the Australian whiz kid to undergo a scan today that could rule him out of Australia’s defence of the Asian Cup in January or, worse still, sideline him for the next nine months.

While there were fears he might have ruptured his ACL, which would have meant a lengthy spell on the sidelines, reports last night indicated it may not be as ­serious with the Celtic medical staff suggesting he might have suffered a tear of his medial ligament. That would mean a worst-case scenario of at least eight weeks out of action. He will undergo scans later today.

It would still mean he would be cutting it fine to be ready in time for the Socceroos’ Asian Cup campaign in the United Arab Emirates in January.

The 19-year-old had to be stretchered off after he came on as a 57th-minute substitute in Celtic’s 5-0 win over Dundee United in a Scottish Premier League game yesterday morning (AEDT).

Arzani showed glimpses of his incredible ability during the 20 minutes he was on the field before collapsing in agony when he ­appeared to get his studs caught in the turf.

He was treated for several minutes before being carried off, but not before turning on his side and applauding the Celtic fans.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers could not shed too much light on the extent of the injury but it could not come at a worse time for the former Melbourne City attacker, who was signed by Manchester City before being loaned out to Celtic in August.

He had to bide his time, playing for the reserves before finally being given his opportunity yesterday with his selection in the squad for the Dundee game.

With the match safely wrapped up, Rodgers took the chance to throw Arzani on for some game time and the teenager settled in quickly. After just four minutes on the field he almost set up a goal with what the official Celtic Twitter account noted was “wonderful play from Arzani”.

There was more praise for the Australian with Celtic tweeting: “Arzani continues to trouble the home side with his willingness to drive at the defence and link-up in the final third”.

Arzani had been on the end of a couple of solid tackles before going down. There were no players around him when he hit the turf.

Rodgers had nothing but praise for Arzani, who was pictured with a brace on his knee after the game.

“He is a talented boy,” Rodgers told Celtic TV. “It has taken a bit of adapting to our style of football and our game but he has settled in very, very well and is building up his confidence.

“He is happy to take the ball … he has confidence. He is a Celtic player in terms of he wants to beat people, he wants to be aggressive.

“It was nice for him to come in and show his qualities. Unfortunately, he is injured. He is a really, really good kid, a super bright boy.”

Arzani burst on the scene with Melbourne City last season in the A-League, earning selection in the Socceroos squad for the World Cup in Russia, where he was given some game time by then coach Bert van Marwijk.

His injury could open the door for Adelaide United winger Craig Goodwin, whose two stunning goals helped Adelaide United win the FFA Cup on Tuesday.

There was better news for Socceroos coach Graham Arnold with Tom Rogic scoring a superb individual goal to open the scoring against Dundee.