Celtic’s central defenders have been rocked by a number of injuries so far this season. At the moment, Kristoffer Ajer, Nir Bitton and Jozo Simunovic are all suffering from injury issues.
The injury to Simunovic will be causing Neil Lennon the most concern. The Hoops boss recently admitted to the Daily Record that the player will need to see a specialist about his continuing knee injury.
In other words, there is no time frame when he will return to the first-team. That has to be very disappointing for the player.
Was first-choice centre-back recently
At the end of last season and start of this season, he looked like being one of Lennon’s first choice centre-backs. However, with the emergence of Christopher Jullien coupled with the knee injury that might not be the case right now.
Injuries have been a feature of Simunovic’s time at Celtic. He has been very unfortunate to suffer so many. Arguably, they have stopped him from becoming a mainstay of the Hoops team.
Played less than half of league games last season
Last season for example, he played only 18 league games, that is less than half of the number played by Celtic overall.
Interestingly, he had played well under Neil Lennon. He had got himself fit, and established a good partnership with Kristoffer Ajer.
That is why the most recent injury has come at such a bad time for the player. By the time he returns to the team, there is no guarantee that he will be first choice for the club.
For now, Simunovic will have to concentrate on getting back to full fitness. Hopefully his latest injury concern does not keep him out of the Celtic side for long.
When he is fit and available, Simunovic is rock solid at the heart of the Celtic defence. Hopefully he makes his return to the Celtic side sooner rather than later.
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