Jozo Simunovic was keen to let the Celtic support know that he was back earlier this week. The big defender took to his favourite social media platform Instagram to say that exact message, after spending months on the sidelines.
But as he prepares to get back to speed in the Dubai heat, his fellow centre-back Kristoffer Ajer should be very wary of what’s going on.
The Norwegian had a torrid afternoon as we lost to Rangers last week. Ajer is a promising centre-back and one who could certainly be great one day. But he’s got a long way to go and his inexperience does have a habit of showing up on the big occasions.
Simunovic is hardly the most reliable of options himself, with a number of injuries curtailing his recent game time. But his re-emergence in the Celtic setup is a reminder that Ajer’s place is far from assured in Neil Lennon’s side.
Ajer now has competition from Simunovic
We’ve all been of the opinion that Ajer and Christopher Jullien would be the centre-back pairing for years to come. Just take the club’s Christmas video, where the pair starred together, as evidence of that.
Of course, they’re still the most likely two. But if more displays like the one at Celtic Park last week happen then Simunovic may just force his way in.
We’ve seen Ajer and Simunovic, and Ajer and Jullien. But Simunovic and Jullien is a partnership that’s yet to get a proper run together. Maybe that will be weighing on Lennon’s mind as he aims to right the wrongs from a few weeks ago.
One thing’s for sure, Ajer now has a bit of competition where he didn’t before. If that hasn’t become clear from Jozo’s Insta post, then it soon will on the training pitch.
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