In mid-October it seemed that Celtic were about to get a welcome squad boost with Ange Postecoglou reporting that Chris Jullien was back out training on the grass at Lennoxtown.
The defender had injured his knee in the last match of 2020, after undergoing surgery he was expected back in the early stages of the new season but unlikely to be available for the Champions League qualifiers.
Dane Murray and Stephen Welsh were paired together for the return leg against Midtjylland with Carl Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers signed up with Nir Bitton also an option in defence.
With the fixture list at its heaviest this month there is still no sign of Jullien which is in marked contrast with an interview that he gave to the Celtic website back in May as he anticipated his return to action:
Seriously, my family was crazy when they were watching me watching the games, either I’d be talking too much or I couldn’t watch some moments in the game because it was stressing me so much.
It’s good to see them team when they have good moments, but when it’s a little bit more difficult, it’s sometimes a little bit difficult to watch. The goal now is to be back with the team for pre-season and I’ll do my best to do this.
Pre-season has come and gone, the winter break is just over a fortnight away and it seems that the fitness and return of Jullien has dropped off the news agenda.
The defender was listed in Celtic’s Europa League squad, Boli Bolingoli wasn’t yet the Belgian played in two SPFL matches while his team-mate remained out of contention throughout the six matches.
After 50 weeks out injured it seems that no-one is prepared to say when the Frenchman will be back which perhaps opens the door to a January loan, perhaps to a climate where he can get back to full match fitness.
Ange Postecoglou says Josip Juranovic & James McCarthy are available for Celtic’s game v St Johnstone. Still too early for James Forrest & Chris Jullien. pic.twitter.com/PmVj4aa0ty
— Alison Conroy (@AlisonGConroy) October 22, 2021
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou pleads for patience over Christopher Jullien’s long-awaited returnhttps://t.co/WXzVvzDIVv pic.twitter.com/Y9kdwj0Vp7
— Scottish Sun Sport (@scotsunsport) November 21, 2021
Welsh in. Jules can wait.
Knee injury was a bad one forecast was 10 to 12 months what’s the mystery
Editor: Lennon said 3-4 months straight away, in May Jullien was discussing playing in pre-season. Happy to view quote for 10-12 months out from January.
Is he going to be the same player before his injury will also take time for him to get to match fitness hope he can get back to his best.
Something isn’t right with big Julie he hurt his knee off the post & somehow done knee legitimates it didn’t even look that bad at the time but he’s been out for so long now it makes u wonder what else is going on with the big fella. It would be nice if he came out & let uz know what is going on with him & when he thinks he will be back