Hibernian v Celtic preview: Ryan Christie to miss the rest of the season
Hibernian host Celtic on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Football from 12pm; Kick-off at 12.30pm
Sunday 21 April 2019 12:14, UK
Celtic's Ryan Christie will miss the rest of the season, starting with the game against Hibernian on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
If Rangers fail to win at Hearts on Saturday, then Celtic will be champions if they win at Hibernian.
But midfielder Christie will be unavailable as he requires surgery after suffering multiple facial fractures during a collision with former Aberdeen team-mate Dominic Ball in last weekend's semi-final at Hampden.
The 24-year-old will sit out the cup final against Hearts and looks certain to miss Scotland's European Championship qualifiers against Cyprus and Belgium in June.
Manager Neil Lennon told Celtic TV: "It's multiple fractures of the eye socket, jaw and cheekbone as well so the prognosis isn't good for the rest of the season really.
"We just have to look after him as best as we can and get him back for the start of next season.
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"He's had a great season, he's a huge player and it was a really horrendous collision. We wish him a speedy recovery.
"With it being multiple fractures, it's going to take a bit more time."
Defender Jack Hendry also looks unlikely to feature again after pulling up in a reserve defeat by Rangers.
Lennon said: "Jack Hendry played in a reserve game and has torn a hamstring. He looks like he is going to be out for the rest of the season as well."
Opta Stats
- Celtic have alternated between a win and a defeat in their last five Scottish Premiership matches against Hibs (W3 D0 L2), winning the last such game 2-0 in February, at Celtic Park.
- Hibernian have only lost one of their last six home league games against Celtic (W3 D2), winning each of the last two. They've never won three consecutive home matches against them in the Scottish Premiership.
- Hibernian are unbeaten in their last eight league games (W6 D2 L0) - their longest unbeaten since a run of 12 matches without defeat between January and May 2018 (W8 D4).
- Celtic have conceded just four goals across their last 14 Scottish Premiership games (W11 D2 L1) - in fact the last side to score more than once against Celtic in a league game was Aberdeen back in December 2018, a game in which Celtic still managed to win 4-3.
- Ryan Christie has been directly involved in eight goals in his nine league games in 2019, more than any other Celtic player this year.
