Scottish pundit makes ‘desperate’ Celtic claim after Jullien report
Alan Hutton has claimed Celtic will be “desperate” for Christopher Jullien to return from injury.
The former Scotland international, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the Hoops are lacking “a leader” at centre-back.
As reported by the Athletic (1st September), the Frenchman is set to remain out for the ‘foreseeable future’ after suffering a serious knee injury in December 2020.
Speaking to BBC Sportsound last month (August 15th), Ange Postecoglou conceded it would be a “little while” before the defender would return.
New signing Carl Starfelt and youngster Stephen Welsh have forged a partnership at the heart of the defence.
However, they have struggled to deliver consistent performances at the back.
Hutton claimed that a fit-again Jullien would come “straight back” into the squad to provide the Hoops with a “calm head”.
“They’re missing Jullien massively,” he told Football Insider‘s Russell Edge.
“They must be desperate to have him back. I think they’re missing a leader at the moment in that centre-half pairing.
“Welsh has come in and done really well, but he’s young.
“Starfelt has only just walked through the door, he’s not found his feet yet after a difficult time at the start of the season.
“They need a calm head back there, so Celtic will be desperate for Jullien to come back.
“He’s played in those high-pressure games, and he can help bring on the centre-backs around him with his experience as well.
“He’ll be a massive part of this Celtic side, and when he’s fit he’ll come straight back in.”
Jullien joined Celtic from Toulouse in 2019 for around £7million.
The France U20 international has been sidelined with a knee injury since the end of 2020.
In other news, this pundit has suggested Celtic star Georgios Giakoumakis could “blow the Scottish League away”.