Arzani targeting Celtic return within weeks after surgeon gives thumbs up

Daniel Arzani has been cleared by famed Spanish orthopedic surgeon Ramon Cugat to return to action for Celtic, less than 10 months after undergoing ACL surgery in Barcelona.

Celtic and Socceroos winger Daniel Arzani Source: Getty Images

Australia’s most effervescent young talent is already back in partial contact training with the Hoops.

And he flew to Catalonia during the week for a final assessment on his recovery from the doctor hand-picked by Pep Guardiola to regenerate his injured knee.

Having received a glowing pass mark by Cugat, Arzani - who sustained the injury on debut for the Bhoys last October - is expected to be handed several re-acclimatization games with Celtic’s Under-23’s before being promoted to the senior squad.

It’s understood he’s targeting a senior comeback by mid-September - if not sooner - with Celtic coach Neil Lennon keen to give the on-loan attacker the chance to shine.

If all goes according to plan, it’s possible Arzani, 20, could find a place on the Hoops bench for the SPL trip to Hamilton Academical on September 15.

In addition to his trek to Spain, Arzani has been back at parent club Manchester City where he excelled in several fitness assessments under the eye of the Etihad conditioning staff.

Whilst Socceroos coach Graham Arnold is itching to reintegrate Arzani into his World Cup calculations, September 11’s Qatar 2022 qualifier against Kuwait appears to have come too early.

However, he is likely to be available for October’s qualifier against Nepal in Canberra.