Chris Jullien will miss Celtic’s three pre-season friendlies in Wales and is a major doubt for the Champions League qualifiers against Midtjylland.
The defender required knee surgery at the turn of the year and has still to resume full running after two weeks training at Lennoxtown.
Jullien suffered the injury clearing a ball off the goal-line against Dundee United at the end of December. His follow through resulted in his knee colliding with the post. Initially it was believed that he’d be out for three or four months but September is now a more likely date for the return of the Frenchman to first team duty.
As things stand Stephen Welsh and Nir Bitton are the men most likely to play against Midtjylland with the future of Kris Ajer in doubt.
When Ange Postecoglou spoke to the media on June 25 he hoped to have players coming in in the near future bit more than a week later Osaze Urhoghide is the only new face at the club with Leigh Griffiths signing a 12 month extension.
The return of the Scotland players on Monday will bring a boost to numbers but right-back remains a major worry where Tony Ralston and Lee O’Connor are the two options.
Since July 2019 Celtic have signed Hatem Abd Elhamed, Moritz Baure, Jeremie Frimpong, O’Connor and Jonjo Kenny but are now starting from scratch in the position that Mikel Lustig excelled in for six years.
Mikey Johnston is also unlikely to play in the Welsh matches against Sheffield Wednesday, Bristol City and Charlton.