“Getting closer…” Brighton release video of ex-Celt back in training | OneFootball

Former Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley is edging closer to a return to action at his new club Brighton and Hove Albion…

Matt O’Riley of Brighton & Hove Albion (second left) warms up with his teammates prior to the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Crawley Town at Amex Stadium on August 27, 2024. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

The 23 year old Denmark international left Celtic in the summer after the Premier League club beat Europa League holders Atalanta to his signature after agreeing an online poker like fee of £26m plus add-ons with Celtic for the Scottish Champions Player of the Year.

Matt O’Riley’s dream move to the Seagulls quickly turned sour inside ten minutes of his debut in the Carabao Cup match against Crawley Town at the Amex stadium on 27 August.

Matt O’Riley reacts after a challenge during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Crawley Town at Amex Stadium on August 27, 2024 (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

O’Riley turned away from opponents in the centre of the park only to be on the wrong end of a disgraceful lunge from the thuggish Jay Williams, who seemed to take great delight in the damage he’d caused.

It was perhaps naive of Brighton’s young manager Fabian Hurzeler to throw O’Riley into the match against such a low quality opponent and in retrospect it may have been better to introduce the former Celtic star from the bench when the tie was settled.

Afterwards Hurzeler revealed that the injury was significant and that after a scan the £30m signing could be sidelined for up to 12 weeks.

Matt O’Riley after being substituted due to injury during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Crawley Town at Amex Stadium on August 27, 2024. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

New signing Matt O’Riley of Brighton disappears down the tunnel after being injured on his debut during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Crawley Town at Amex Stadium on August 27, 2024 (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

However there has been a positive development this week with Brighton’s social media accounts posting a video of the former Celtic man getting back to training, with the teasing caption reading as “Getting closer…”

Watching the video below Matt seems well on his way to being ready to play, he’s moving well, kicking the ball and looking determined to get back into action ahead of schedule.

Matt O’Riley back on the training pitch is great news for Brighton and hopefully he’s going to be back in their squad over the next few weeks. Brighton’s upcoming fixtures after tomorrow Premier League match away to Newcastle United, could be the ones penciled in for a Matt O’Riley return.

On Saturday 26 October Brighton are at home to Wolves in the Premier League and that is followed by another home fixture, this time back in the Carabao Cup against Liverpool.

Introducing Matt into this exciting Brighton team could be the difference maker and the Carabao Cup could turn from disaster to triumph for O’Riley as a possible route to silverware south of the border after his incredible run of success in Scotland.

Matt O’Riley of Celtic poses for a photo with the PlayStation Player Of The Match award after the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and Atletico Madrid at Celtic Park on October 25, 2023. (Photo by Jan Kruger – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Matt O’Riley left Celtic with six major honours – three league titles, two Scottish Cups and one League Cup, all won in two and a half years signing his £1.5m move from League One side MK Dons. He was also a stand-out performer in the Champions League, winning the Man of the Match against Atletico Madrid which prompted the Spanish giants to launch their own bid for the Celtic midfielder in the January transfer window. That was promptly rejected by Celtic who had their sites set on a league and cup double.

Of course, had Brighton failed in their summer pursuit of the classy midfielder, Matt O’Riley could have ended up playing against Celtic this Wednesday night for Atalanta in the Champions League. That would have been tough to handle for the Celtic support and indeed for Matt himself who absolutely loved every minute of his time at Celtic and was a huge favourite with the Celtic supporters.

That was something the Brighton fans picked up on in the summer as all they were reading were glowing tributes and appreciation for O’Riley for his time wearing the Hoops.

C’Mon Matt show them what you’re all about!

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