Matt O’Riley has faced a tough time since leaving Celtic for Brighton last summer.
The former Parkhead star made history as Celtic’s most expensive sale, sealing a £30 million move to the Amex Stadium to fulfill his dream of playing in the Premier League. At 24, the Danish international had given everything to the Hoops, and fans wished him well in his big-money transfer.
However, his Brighton journey got off to a rocky start when he suffered an injury on his debut against Crawley after a reckless challenge. Since then, he has struggled to find his footing. Manager Fabian Hurzeler recently shed light on why O’Riley’s Brighton career has yet to take off.
Brighton Take Cautious Approach with Matt O’Riley
Adding to his troubles, O’Riley has been dealing with an illness, further delaying his return. Ahead of Brighton’s upcoming clash with Fulham, Hurzeler confirmed that while O’Riley has recovered from his sickness, his knee injury remains a concern.
“Matt O’Riley is over his illness, but we have to be mindful of his knee issue. We’ll assess whether he can train,” the 32-year-old manager stated.
So far this season, O’Riley has made just 14 appearances for Brighton, recording one goal and one assist. His lone goal was a dramatic winner against Manchester City in his Premier League debut, offering a rare highlight in an otherwise challenging campaign.
Celtic Fans Reflect on O’Riley’s Struggles
Among his low points was a crushing 7-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in February, a result that left Celtic fans pointing out that the grass isn’t always greener.
Many supporters have even called for O’Riley to return to Celtic, as the Hoops edge closer to another Scottish Premiership title. If they go on to secure the league and progress past Hibernian in the Scottish Cup, O’Riley will still receive a winners’ medal for his contributions before his summer departure.
