Hedman Laments Loss of A Season

Magnus Hedman is around the half-way mark in his rehabilitation from knee ligament damage, and the Swedish internationalist has admitted that he won't be sad to see the back of this season.

Hedman's Celtic career has been blighted with injury since his move from Coventry last August, and the stopper remains frustrated at his lack of opportunities to show the reasons why Martin O'Neill brought him to Glasgow.

The 30-year-old has set his sights on a return to action by May, and he is hoping then to have a sustained run in the first-team to set him up for the summer. The keeper has started work in the gym on his injured knee, but still remains a month away from a return.

"I have lost the brace that was around my knee but obviously the muscles are still weak and right now all I can do is get into the gym and try to wake them up a little," he said.

"I have started doing some cycling and some strength work on the leg, but it is still too early to start running yet.

"I'd imagine that it'll be at least another four weeks before I am able to get back and then hopefully I can stay in the side until the end of the season.

"This has been a complete nightmare for me. I am still frustrated and disappointed, but I know how important it is to stay mentally strong because that makes a big difference.

"I have played just ten games so far for Celtic, and that is absolutely nothing. This whole season has been awful, from a purely personal point of view, and I can't wait to get it behind me and get back to being fully fit again.

"I've not really had the chance to prove what I can do, and that's something that has been difficult for me to take. It hasn't been an enjoyable last few months at all, but all I can do is keep working in the gym and stay as positive as I can."

As well as missing out on an exciting league campaign, Hedman has had to watch from the stands as Celtic have embarked on a thrilling UEFA Cup run while his international career has also been put on standby.

"It has been a massive blow to miss out on the qualifying games for Sweden," sighed Hedman. "They are so important and since becoming first choice for my country I had missed just one game - the home tie against Hungary - and obviously missing this weekend's game away in Hungary will be the second.

"I have been cursed this season, but hopefully I can put it behind me, get some games under my belt in May and then work hard in pre-season and be back refreshed and all set for the new season in the summer."

The return of Henrik Larsson to the squad for this weekend's qualifier in Hungary has inevitably been welcomed in Swden, and Hedman is hoping that the striker opts for a rethink on his retirement from international football.

"Henrik's return was greeted with delight in Sweden - I think most of the newspapers dedicated at least 5 or 6 pages to it," smiled Hedman.

"At the minute he is saying that it is only for this game, but hopefully we can get him to change his mind because he is a world-class player and so important for any team that he plays for."