Gavin Strachan has defended Celtic’s decision to take Chris Jullien on the ill-fated training trip to Dubai.
Yesterday it was announced that the Frenchman had tested positive with 13 team-mates identified as close contacts and forced into self-isolation.
In a season that has involved a series of massive errors taking Jullien to Dubai less than a week after he damaged knee ligaments will go down as one of the biggest with fans openly at odds with the club over the incredible events of Dubai as a potentially historic season lies in tatters.
There has been no signs of regret or an apology from anyone inside Celtic with Strachan continuing with that theme as he took over from Neil Lennon and faced the media following the 1-1 draw with Hibs.
The Sun reports:
On Jullien jetting to the Middle East he explained: “It was to maintain his treatment with the backroom staff, he went over there so we can get him back as fast as we can.”
With the travel involved it is hard to imagine what sort of treatment on a five day break is likely to fast-track Jullien back into action any quicker. James Forrest, who has been out of action since the end of September is believed to be in the final stages of rehab but was left out of the squad that flew to Dubai.
Strachan now has to try and prepare the squad for back-to-back matches against a Livingston team on an eight match winning run.
Revealing the extent of Jullien’s injury, on January 2 Lennon told the Daily Record:
He’s a very important player. It’s a bad injury, we are going to lose him for a period of time, perhaps three or four months.
Last night Stephen Welsh, who wasn’t on the bench for the defeat at Ibrox, teamed up with Shane Duffy in the centre of the Celtic defence.
CLICK HERE for Celtic’s statement defending the Dubai trip.
