Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that Josip Juranovic will return to training at the beginning of next week.
The defender has been enjoying a fantastic spell at the World Cup in Qatar, helping his nation reach the semi-finals of the prestigious tournament.
After playing every minute in the run-up to the last four, Juranovic sat out Croatia’s 3rd-place play-off victory over Morocco.
After putting in some impressive performances at the World Cup, including man of the match against Brazil, plenty of transfer interest for Juranovic has arrived.
Huge clubs such as Barcelona have recently been linked with moves for the defender, who was signed by Ange Postecoglou last summer.
Of course, players earning a move off the back of a World Cup isn’t uncommon. However, with the 2022 tournament taking place in the winter, we are working in unprecedented circumstances.
So, before any club makes a potential move for Juranovic, we will see the right-back back at Parkhead with the Bhoys’ competitive campaign now underway.
Speaking to the press ahead of Celtic’s return to Paradise on Wednesday, Postecoglou confirmed the timeline of when the defender is expected back in training at Lennoxtown.
He said [Celtic FC]: “I don’t have any sort of confidence or lack of confidence about any of our players. They are all here, and they are all training.
“Obviously, Josip (Juranovic) isn’t back yet. He had a great World Cup, absolutely. He was brilliant, and credit to him. He’s got a memory he will have forever; represented our football club really well, as did all of our boys at the World Cup.
“He’s got a bit of time off now. He’s got a week off, then he’ll be back early next week and ready to go.”
Juranovic set to return in time for Easter Road and Ibrox trips.
No matter what the current transfer speculation is over the next few weeks, for now, Josip Juranovic is a Celtic player.
So, with the Hoops now back in regular Scottish Premiership action, the Celtic manager will be expecting to see his right-back return.
Of course, after a long and impressive spell out at the World Cup, Juranovic is getting some well-deserved time off.
However, if we are going off Ange Postecoglou’s timeline, the Croatian international should be back in time for the trip to Easter Road on next Wednesday.
Having only missed a week of regular training, Juranovic should be good to go and fully fit to play his part in the capital against Hibernian.
However, it would be understandable if the Celtic boss was to stick with Anthony Ralston, who is expected to fill the right-back slot over the next few games.
But Postecoglou could have a big decision on his hands when the Hoops head to Ibrox on January 2nd, with the former Socceroos boss potentially having three options to choose from.
Overall, it will be good to welcome Juranovic back from his ventures out in Qatar at the beginning of next week, in the middle of an important run of fixtures.
In other news, Another Ange classic as Celtic boss explains why Bhoys should be differentiated from rivals.
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