Maloney faces op on hernia

CELTIC striker Shaun Maloney is to have surgery on a hernia problem and will be out for up to a month.

The news is a blow to the Parkhead side, who face Hearts at Tynecastle on Sunday.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan said: "I would think it will be three to four weeks before Shaun plays again. He had struggled all through pre-season.

"It has been bothering him so we have decided he would be as well to have the operation now as he would have to get it done eventually. But things are still going well for him. This is just a blip."

Strachan and his team are currently in Japan and faced Yokohama F Marinos today. They have been criticised for flying halfway round the world for a friendly just before the Hearts clash.

But the Celtic boss added: "We have had a very hectic schedule, but that comes with the territory.

"If you want an easy life, then you should not play for Celtic. You should go to an inferior team."

Taken from the Scotsman