UNWELCOME MATT
Matt O’Riley Brighton return timeline revealed after ex-Celtic star suffered horror tackle just minutes into debut
Brighton owner Tony Bloom has broken his silence on the incident
MATT O'RILEY will be out for up to three months due to the injury he suffered on his Brighton debut, it's being reported.
The former Celtic star was forced off the field of play only EIGHT minutes into his debut for his new team, which came just a day after he sealed a £25m-plus move to the Premier League side.
4
4
4
O'Riley, 23, broke the record for the Parkhead club's most lucrative sale on August 26 and was given the nod to start for the Seagulls in their EFL Cup clash against Crawley Town the following evening.
But his dream debut turned into a nightmare when a horror tackle from Crawley's Jay Williams in the opening exchanges sent him flying and left him in a heap on the floor.
He was helped up by the club's medical staff and he limped off the pitch before being taken away for further treatment.
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler feared the worst straight away.
Read more Football stories
And he said after the game: “I can't say how long he will be out but it’s a serious injury as we expected."
Now Brighton owner Tony Bloom has broken his silence on the matter, after seeing one of his club's star summer recruits cut down before fans got to see him flourish.
O'Riley went for a scan on the injury and now it's being reported that he will miss between eight and 12 weeks of action, according to Sky Sports News.
Bloom said: "We are hugely disappointed with that horror challenge on Matt O’Riley.
Most read in Football
"He had his operation this week and that has been successful.
"We are all really looking forward to seeing him back at the later part of the year.
Emotional Matt O'Riley opens up on Celtic transfer exit as he leaves 'family club' for new challenge at Brighton
"It's really important to bring the right players with the right personality.
"From what I have seen and from what I have heard, everyone is fitting in well."
4
Our New YouTube Channel
Subscribe to our new Scottish Sun Sport YouTube channel for all the latest football news, views and amazing moments.
We've got every major development covered from Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, Hibs, Aberdeen and the rest of the Scottish Premiership.
Plus we have TWO brilliant new podcasts to watch every week...
MONDAY
Go Ballistic with Roger Hannah and special guest Kris Boyd will dissect all the weekend action and deliver their no-holds-barred reaction.
WEDNESDAY
Robert Grieve and Bill Leckie chew over the tastiest topics in Scottish football and offer their unique takes in their Coffee Club.
FRIDAY
Go Ballistic is back with Roger Hannah and top tipster Jim Delahunt looking ahead to the weekend games and analysing the biggest talking points.
Subscribe now and don't miss a thing.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page