The returning Christopher Jullien is ‘like a new signing’ for Celtic, ex-Hoop Frank McAvennie has told Football Insider.
The lowdown
Jullien returned to action in Saturday’s 4-0 Scottish Cup win over Raith Rovers, coming off the bench for the final 15 minutes at Parkhead.
It was his first appearance for a full 14 months after he collided with a post and damaged in his knee in a game against Dundee United in December 2020.
The Frenchman said the whopping 409-day lay-off had been a ‘very challenging time’ in his life.
Jullien has been included in Celtic’s Europa Conference League squad, and so he could be involved in their play-off tie against Bodo/Glimt.
Celtic host Kjetil Knutsen’s side this Thursday before travelling to Norway for the return leg seven days later.
The latest
McAvennie is delighted for Jullien on a personal level after such a long spell on the sidelines.
Ange Postecoglou ‘will be over the moon’ to have one of his strongest defensive options back available, he tells FI.
“It’s absolutely brilliant, isn’t it?
“We knew all along that he’s one of the best centre-backs Celtic have within their ranks, but it’s been such a long road to recovery for him.
“That is a lengthy spell out where you’ve got to be watching from a distance and trying to stay positive through this recovery period.
“It’ll be like a new signing for Celtic and it just adds even more competition for places in that squad. That’ll be important with them still being in three competitions this season.
“It’ll be a welcome return and Postecoglou will be over the moon to see this and add another quality centre-half to his squad.”
The verdict
Domestically, Celtic’s defensive record this season has been strong. They’ve shipped only 15 goals in their 26 Scottish Premiership matches, six fewer than title rivals Rangers.
In Europe, however, they’ve been found wanting. Over the course of the six-match Europa League group stage, they scored 13 goals, roughly the same as the top two sides Bayer Leverkusen and Real Betis (who bagged 14 and 12 respectively), but they let in a whopping 15 at the other end.
If they’re to progress towards the tail end of the Conference League, they simply need to tighten up, and perhaps Jullien, billed a ‘colossus’ by The Celtic Way’s Tony Haggerty, could be key.
In other news, Craig Levein rips into this ‘terrible’ Celtic star after a Parkhead ‘calamity’.
