'Massive Miss' - Exclusive: Pundit reacts as Celtic 27-yr-old ruled out for many weeks
Alan Hutton admits that Christopher Jullien is going to be a "massive miss" for Celtic after Neil Lennon delivered a concerning injury update.
The former Rangers and Scotland star, speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, insists that the French centre-back's experience is going to be difficult to replace at the heart of the defence.
As quoted by the Daily Record, Lennon confirmed that the 27-year-old is set to be on the sidelines for the coming weeks as he struggles to recover from a back problem.
The 2019 signing has missed the Hoops' last seven games across all competitions and was initially replaced by either Nir Bitton or Hatem Abd Elhamed at the back.
However, positive Covid-19 tests for both Israel internationals meant Lennon handed young Stephen Welsh his second senior start in Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Rangers.
Hutton admits the 20-year-old performed admirably in difficult circumstances but insists that Jullien's know-how is going to be sorely missed.
Hutton told Football Insider: "Of course he's a miss. They've been rock-solid with the three big centre-halves at the back.
"I think Welsh came in and did well, he's very young, it was his debut against Rangers and I thought he came in and did his job really well."
"However, I think you call on that experience, that know-how to get through certain games and Jullien, he's a massive miss. If he was fit, he would play, of course."
Lennon told the Daily Record: "He’s not responding well, he still has a lot of pain, a lot of discomfort in his back. Unfortunately, and I don’t know if I can put a timescale on it, but he’s going to be out for the next few weeks.
“He’s had scans, he’s seen specialists, he’s seen chiropractors, he’s getting round the clock treatment now and hopefully we will see an improvement in his condition as we go along.”
In other Celtic news, Alex McLeish has dropped a big Neil Lennon claim after Old Firm disappointment.