A step too far for Ledley

Last updated : 27 April 2011 By Grahame Greeen

Joe Ledley IIJoe Ledley will not be involved in the five league games left as Celtic drive towards picking up the SPL title.The Wales midfielder admitted he feared his season was over after limping off with a hamstring injury during Sunday's Old Firm derby at Ibrox. Celtic confirmed that Ledley will miss the last games of the season, which includes the Scottish Cup final against Motherwell. Ledley had not been expected to be involved on Sunday after straining his hamstring in the Scottish Cup semi-final win over Aberdeen seven days before. The former Cardiff star missed the midweek win over Kilmarnock and manager Neil Lennon admitted he was a huge doubt for the Old Firm game. 
 
Speaking at the time, Lennon said: "Hamstrings are a very delicate injury and it would be a massive gamble with the obvious chance of it tearing and him being out for the remainder of the season. It's not a risk I would be willing to take on a player who has been very influential and who we need for the run-in." 
 
However, Ledley only lasted 54 minutes of the Ibrox game before pulling up. He has emerged as a key player in recent months, holding down a central midfield role alongside Beram Kayal after being moved around the park during the early stages of his Parkhead career. But Lennon has options in the centre in Scott Brown, who has been playing wide right in recent weeks, and Ki Sung-yueng, who played there at Ibrox with Ledley starting on the left.