Matt O’Riley has not had his struggles to seek since leaving Celtic for Brighton last summer.
The Parkhead hero became Celtic’s most expensive sale in a £30million move to the Amex Stadium where he lived out his dream of playing in the Premier League.
There was excitement for the Danish international, 24, who had given his all in the Hoops and was not begrudged his big-money move.
Unfortunately an injury on his debut against Crawley from a shocker of a challenge set him back and he has been playing catch up ever since. O’Riley was told why his Brighton career hasn’t taken off yet by manager Fabian Hurzeler.
Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images
Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images
Brighton won’t rush Celtic hero Matt O’Riley back to action
And now the boss has given his player even more bad news as he recovers from a bug which has added to his woes.
Speaking ahead of the Seagulls’ clash with Fulham this weekend, Hurzeler explained how he would not be rushing O’Riley back to action following his sickness. But his knee injury is also in the German’s mind.
“Matt O’Riley is over his illness but we have to take care of his knee issue. We have to see if he can train,” the 32-year-old said.
O’Riley has featured just 14 times this term for his club with one goal and the same number of assists in that time. The strike he did find the net with was a dramatic winner against Manchester City on his first appearance in the league down south.
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Matt O’Riley Celtic stats show why he was bargain at £30m
Matt O’Riley Celtic stats
Matches played: 124
Goals scored: 27
Assists: 35
That was one moment of glee amid the difficulties he has faced this season including a brutal hammering at the hands of EPL surprise package Nottingham Forest who destroyed them 7-0 back in February.
Celtic fans were all saying the same thing about O’Riley that day as they claimed the grass is not always greener.
Most Celtic punters also urged their former player to get back up the road as they close in on another Scottish Premiership title – which will see O’Riley handed a winners’ medal for his contributions – and a Scottish Cup if they can get past Hibs this weekend on the road to the semis.