Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel fears he may never play football again after being told of the recovery time for his persistent shoulder injury.

The Danish international faces 10-12 months out of action, which would see him out beyond the expiry of his Celtic deal, expiring this summer.

It also means he misses a potential World Cup this summer, and the 39-year-old is under no illusions of the stark reality ahead of him.

He told CBS last night: “I’m going to need two surgeries to fix my shoulder.

“I’ve torn the bicep, torn the rotator cuff, dislocated the shoulder, torn the labrum. Everything is gone.

“It’s like an outfielder doing his ACL and achilles at the same time. It’s looking like 10-12 months of rehab.”

Schmeichel wouldn’t be back in action until after his 40th birthday, and likely without a club if Celtic now choose not to extend his contract at Parkhead.

“I could’ve potentially played my last ever football game.

“I’ve been a footballer since the day I was born, that kind of thought is devastating. It’s very hard to wrap my head around at the moment.

“By the time I get back fit I could be plus 40.

“I’m going to give it everything I can to see if I can get back. It would be probably one of the greatest feats of my career if I could ever get back from an injury like this.”

The former Premier League winner’s last game in the sticks came in a 2-1 home defeat to Hibernian last month.