Joey Dawson suffers long-term injury after 20-goal Celtic B run; out until 2024

By John McGinley

March 28, 2023

Celtic B striker Joey Dawson’s impressive 2022/23 season is over after he underwent surgery on a serious knee injury that will keep him out of action until 2024.

The 19-year-old has been in lightning form this term, netting 20 goals in 21 Lowland League matches before suffering the injury in a game against Cumbernauld Colts on March 10th. [Transfermarkt]

Shortly before that, he had scored a brilliant double against Rangers in the Glasgow Cup, adding to his haul in all competitions.

Confirming a long-term lay-off on his Instagram account, Dawson shared he won’t be back in action this calendar year. Thankfully his surgery did go well before the long road of rehabilitation.

It’s a bitter blow for the 19-year-old, especially after catching the eye with heavy goalscoring. But he’ll be determined not to let it define the early stage of his career and bounce back over the next 12 months.

Dawson arrived from Scunthorpe in the summer of 2021 on a three-year contract. He’s already made his senior debut under Ange Postecoglou. That came in a 3-1 victory over St Johnstone on Boxing Day of that year, drafted in early in the match after a hamstring injury sustained by Kyogo Furuhashi.

The news also comes as a setback for Celtic B, who are engaged in a final push to win the Lowland League, or at least finish above city rivals Rangers. Spartans now look favourites for the title itself, but finishing second would show they are the best colts side in the division.

We wish Joey all the best with his rehabilitation and hope to see him back fit and firing with the Hoops next year. He clearly has the potential to be a consistent goalscorer at a senior level.

In other news, Mark Lawwell and Ange Postecoglou make another Celtic move.