Celtic defender Andreas Hinkel hopes to make a full recovery after undergoing successful knee surgery in the United States. The German right-back, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in training in August, was operated on by world-renowned surgeon Dr Richard Steadman in Vail, Colorado.
Hinkel wrote on his official website, www.andreas-hinkel.de: "Everything went perfectly.
"Before the operation there was a fear that there could be even more damage in the knee, in the meniscus, for example.
"Thank God that is not the case, it is 'only' the anterior cruciate ligament.
"I will stay in the States for a few more days before flying back to Germany for my rehabilitation.
"I am still very optimistic. My doctors have told me most athletes returning from this injury reach at least the same level as before."
