Balde blow for Bhoys
The Bhoys are expected to sign a centre-back in the transfer window
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Wednesday, 27, Dec 2006 08:35
Celtic will be without Bobo Balde for several months after the defender broke his leg in yesterday's thrilling 2-2 draw with Dundee United.
The Scottish champions confirmed the 31-year-old broke his right leg after overstretching while clearing the ball in the first half.
After four minutes of treatment, Balde was taken off and replaced by Darren O'Dea who scored the Hoops' first goal on 78 minutes.
While Gordon Strachan's side are running away with the SPL, Balde will miss both legs of the crunch Champions League tie with AC Milan in February.
Strachan has more injury problems in defence with right-back Mark Wilson out for two months with a knee injury, while centre-back Gary Caldwell is still out with a groin strain.
The Celtic boss is hoping to sign former Hearts star Stephen Pressley in next month's transfer window as cover.
Pressley, 33, was released by Hearts on December 9th after a turbulent season at Tynecastle.
The Boxing Day draw with Dundee United keeps the reigning SPL champions a mammoth 15 points ahead of second-placed Aberdeen.
Goals by David Robertson and Collin Samuel had put struggling United 2-0 up at Parkhead but strikes from O'Dea and Shunsuke Nakamura in the last 12 minutes snatched a point for Celtic.