Celtic’s Jozo Simuovic has been a bit of a forgotten man this season.
The Hoops centre-back has fallen way down the pecking order at the club. Dedryck Boyata and Filip Simunovic are Brendan Rodgers’ first choices at the back, with Kristoffer Ajer third choice.
Limited game time
This has limited Simunovic to only 21 appearances this season. However, when the defender is on his game he is one of the best around. That was shown in the Hoops’ 1-0 defeat to Valencia on Thursday night.
Playing in an unfamiliar back three, Simunovic was solid. The Hoops staged a rearguard action following the first-half sending-off of Jeremy Toljan.
Defender not to blame for defeat
The Bhoys might have lost the game, but that is no fault of Simunovic. He turned in a display similar to those which made him such a success in the Hoops’ invincible season of 2016-17.
It was a far better performance than his display in the first leg defeat to Valencia, he looked far more confident and assured at the Mestella.
Simunovic still has a big future at the club. With Dedryck Boyata’s contract up and Filip Benkovic set to return to Lecicester on loan, he is one of the few defenders at the club seemingly certain to return to the club next season.
He will be needed for July’s vitally important series of Champions League qualifiers. Should he perform to the level he shown in Valencia, Brendan Rodgers will have no qualms about selecting him for those games.
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