Celtic centre-back Christopher Jullien looks poised to make his return from a long-term knee injury in the coming days and weeks.
The Frenchman has been out for the best part of nine months but manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed the defender is back training with the first team.
Supporters on Twitter have been debating when Jullien should be reintroduced into the starting lineup and whether he should replace either Cameron Carter-Vickers or Carl Starfelt:
Straight in as part of a back 3. Ralston drops out. 5 across the middle and 2 up top.
— Soomster 🇯🇵 (@ballyliffinbhoy) October 15, 2021
He will probably come in gradually as he's been out for so long but when he's up to speed again he comes in for Starfelt.
— MarkJN (@MarkJNicholas) October 15, 2021
I think we will change to a back 3 to accommodate the big man
— Cmon-the-Hoops (@the_LEGEND1976) October 15, 2021
maybe needs to be eased in over a few weeks but once he’s fully back should walk into the XI surely , could replace either or CCV or starfelt just depends on who impresses more from now on
— kameruno🏴 (@kameruno2) October 15, 2021
If we are desperate for him to return that just shows how bad we are.
— Mark Mcirvine (@MarkMcirvine) October 15, 2021
He may not be the player he was. We’re lacking height though and Starfelt doesn’t look too clever.
— Michael (@Michael41319946) October 15, 2021
Takes CCV’s place imo
— Aaron Haire (@aaronhairee) October 15, 2021
Starfelt and Jullien 😮💨
— Max Stark🇯🇵 (@MaxStark04) October 15, 2021
Needs to earn his place, he's been out for a long time. Big man needs to show Ange what he can do.
— Stephen Rennie (@Loch_Ren_Monsta) October 15, 2021
It is a difficult one to get right. You can’t really give centre-halves minutes off the bench in order to increase their fitness so Postecoglou will need to throw Jullien in at the deep end at some point.
Tuesday’s Europa League match against Ferencvaros may come too early for the 28-year-old, but it would be a good opportunity for the defender to get up to speed. Whether we’ll see him involved in the fixture, we shall have to wait and see.
