Celtic and Ange Postecoglou have received a major boost going into the Glasgow Derby next weekend after it was confirmed hoops defender Josip Juranovic will be rested by his country on Tuesday and will have over a weeks rest before the big game at Ibrox.
Josip has played a lot of games since coming back from injury earlier this season and has been ever-present for his country over the past couple of international breaks. The right-back played the full 90 minutes against Slovenia at the weekend but now will watch on as a second string side take on Bulgaria.
Discussing his defensive options, Zlatko Dalić told Sport Clanek:
The stoppers will be Skoric, Vida and Caleta-Car, on the left side Barisic, on the right maybe Juranovic, although it will be his second game then. Moro, Pašali? and Majer will be in the midfield, and Vlaši? and Livaja will be in the attack.
We are only in a little doubt when it comes to the right flank. I will not tell you who we are thinking about because you will be making a drama about it. The goal is to try this team and, of course, win the game.
Unlike Nir Bitton, who is getting excused early from international duty, it looks like Josip will stick around until after the game on Tuesday.
Ange will be watching his players slowly filter back to Lennoxtown over the next few days and preparation will get under way.
CeltsAreHere exclusively revealed the Hoops who stayed behind took part in a bounce game against Motherwell last week. Guys like Christopher Jullien, Albian Ajeti, Mikey Johnston and Boli Bolingoli got game time.
There aren’t too many injury worries for Celtic at the moment. After David Turnbull returning before the international break, Kyogo remains our biggest miss. Given he was our star striker in the first part of the season, it’s still a massive miss.
Let’s hope everyone coming back from international duty comes back to Glasgow with a clean bill of health.
