Jonny Hayes is out for the season with injury and Scottish Premiership champions Celtic already appear to have replaced him.
Jonny Hayes could not have suffered a broken leg at a worse time.
The winger had really struggled to make an impression at Celtic following his summer move from Aberdeen but, just when he was starting to get a belated run of games in Brendan Rodgers’ starting XI, he endured that sickening blow in a post-Christmas clash with Dundee.
According to Irish News, Hayes will not be seen again this season. But will he be seen again in Celtic colours full stop?
As reported by the Express, the Hoops paid £1.3 million to sign the 30-year-old after a protracted transfer saga and, at the time, the figure seemed justified. Hayes was one of the best footballers in Scotland last season and was more than deserving of his place on the SPFA Player of the Year shortlist – the only non-Celtic player up for the award.
It quickly became apparent, however, that Aberdeen’s star man was little more than a squad player at Celtic. He has started just six league games for the Bhoys, and his chances of forcing his way into the starting XI could have just got even slimmer after the January transfer window.
After all, Celtic have added further wide players to their squad since Hayes’ injury. Lewis Morgan will arrive at Parkhead in the summer when his loan spell at St Mirren comes to and end while Charly Musonda will stay at Celtic for the next 18 months after arriving on a temporary deal from Chelsea.
Hayes, then, could fall even further down the pecking order. So it would be little surprise if Celtic cashed in on an ageing, ill-fitting player with younger and arguably better players in their squad.
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