While Robbie Brady’s Burnley departure was only made official on Thursday, plenty at Turf Moor may argue the Irishman’s time as a top-level footballer actually came to an end in 2017.
On a fateful December’s day, Brady suffered an injury that would turn his world upside down.
After undergoing surgery following a sickening collision with Leicester City’s Harry Maguire, the winger would spend almost a year out of the game.
And, when he returned ten months later, it was immediately clear the spark that convinced Burnley to part with a club-record £13 million had been left on the treatment table.
“Unfortunately, I picked up quite a significant injury when I felt like I was almost reaching the peak of my game in that season where we finished in the European spots,” Brady tells the club’s official website.
“I found it difficult with the magnitude of the injury getting back.”
Brady – injury struggles
With his injury history, and the fact he has started just 23 Premier League games in the past three seasons, you’d be forgiven for assuming 29-year-old Brady would struggle to find employment away from Turf Moor.
That might not be the case, however.
- ‘LOVE TO’: £8m Premier League winner says he’d love to join Celtic
In February, The Mirror reported Celtic were interested in the Dublin-born, former Manchester United youngster.
The Glasgow giants may no longer be the all-conquering force of the Brendan Rodgers era but, for Brady, the chance to join a colossus of a club – one offering European football and a stab at silverware – must be a dream scenario.
The Mirror did point out, however, that Neil Lennon was driving Celtic’s interest in his fellow Irishman.
Celtic could consider free agent
With Lennon now gone, it remains to be seen whether the Hoops would still consider a free agent with a wand of a left foot and a devilish set-piece delivery.
If Brady can stay fit, he’d bring cutting edge and superb crossing ability to a side that has struggled to turn dominance into goals in recent months.
And no-one at Burnley would begrudge him should this most unfortunate of footballers end up lifting a trophy in green and white next season.
Here’s what some Burnley fans had to say on Twitter about Brady’s departure:
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