If you haven’t heard the news, you’ll be glad to find out that Celtic defender Jeremie Frimpong appears to have avoided serious injury during Sunday’s match against Motherwell.
Frimpong was on the receiving end of a high, studs-up lunge from Devante Cole and Neil Lennon feared he may have suffered ligament damage.
Thankfully it’s been reported that a scan only shows bruising. The youngster should even be fit enough to face Hibernian after the international break.
He’s extremely lucky not to be out for longer.
The incident again brings to the fore that the teenager is a target for opposition sides.
Cole’s tackle was the third time this season he’s been on the receiving end of a notably brutal challange.
Hibs player Josh Doig left a foot in on the Dutch youth international at Celtic Park having been burned for pace in the match consistently prior.
That followed on from St Mirren star Richard Tait’s tackle in another top-flight clash. He received a yellow, but for many, it should have been a straight red.
Tait would go on to receive a red against Dundee United for another horror tackle just days later.
If referees such as Andrew Dallas don’t start setting an example in the Premiership this term, then someone is going to suffer a bad injury.
Frimpong is near the front of the queue.
WhoScored’s stats show that rivals have fouled him 20 times this season, the second-most of any right flank player in the opening stages of the season, behind the similarly pacy Martin Boyle.
I’m not saying that refs should start handing out red cards liberally, but there at least needs to be acknowledgement opposition teams are targeting Frimpong and take into account that intent when making decisions.
The Scottish Premiership should ideally be a division that celebrates it’s young attacking talents, but if they are being booted into the air consistently, then it only ends one way in the end.
Celtic fans are at least relieved that Frimpong has escaped injury, taking to Twitter over the last 24 hours to share their thoughts on the update…
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