 The good news is that Gary Hooper has not broken his leg but he could still face six weeks on the sidelines. A scan on Wednesday allayed fears Hooper had suffered a broken fibula during last night's 1-1 draw against Kilmarnock, but ankle ligament damage could keep him out until February. The club released a statement which said: "Following an MRI scan, the specialist and the Celtic club doctor confirmed that the player could be out for up to six weeks with a severe ankle strain." Hooper, who has scored 11 goals in 13 games since moving from Scunthorpe in a £2million deal in late July, had to be carried off in the 35th minute of last night's game after clashing with Killie defender Frazer Wright. This will be the second six-week lay-off Hoper will have to cope with as he tore a calf muscle during a pre-season friendly against Blackburn. Neil Lennon has urged the club's other strikers to step up to the plate again. He said: "Out of a crisis comes opportunity so it's an opportunity for other players to come in and show me why they're here. With (Anthony) Stokes, (Georgios) Samaras and (Daryl) Murphy we can have a bit of variety, with maybe one of the wide men through the middle as well. They have got to step forward and start taking responsibility for the goals now that Gary is out." Stokes has not scored during a five-game spell as Celtic have won just one league game. And he realises the pressure is on to end his quiet spell as Celtic prepare to take St Johnstone and Motherwell in consecutive home games before meeting Rangers at Ibrox. The former Hibs forward said: "None of us wants to see Hoops out for a day never mind a few weeks but it happens in football and whoever the gaffer puts in the team is just going to have to step up to the plate and get some goals, because we are badly needing them at the minute.Everyone needs to chip in but strikers are paid to put the ball in the net and we have to take the brunt of it when things are going the way they are at the minute." |