Celtic midfielder Beram Kayal is confident that he will return from injury as a better player.

The Israeli international has undergone surgery for damaged ankle ligaments sustained in the Old Firm win over Rangers on December 28 and is sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.

However, Kayal is remaining positive after surgery and has no doubt that he can come back bigger and stronger from the setback.

"It's bad timing but I will be back even stronger," he said.

"The doctor and the specialist sat with me after the operation and said that the surgery was successful.

"As I said this timing is not good for me after we got back into first place in the league so spectacularly.

"But I have had injuries in the past and come back stronger and I believe it will again be like that now.

"Already, I cannot wait to start the process of my rehabilitation to get back into the game earlier than people think I will be back."

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