Ange Postecoglou is confident Carl Starfelt WILL be fit for Celtic's Premiership opener with Aberdeen at the end of the month.
The Hoops defender picked up an injury on international duty with Sweden last month during their Nations League clash with Slovenia. He is likely to miss a chunk of the pre-season preparations with the squad being put through their paces in Austria at the moment. They kicked off the camp with a thumping 7-0 win over Wiener Viktoria.
The Swede struck up a solid partnership in the heart of the Celtic defence with Cameron Carter-Vickers last term as they recaptured the Premiership title from Rangers and lifted the Premier Sports Cup. The on loan Tottenham defender has put pen to paper on a long-term permanent deal meaning the duo can pick up from where they left off, with Postecoglou confident the defender will be back fit in time for the July 31 showdown at Parkhead.
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On the stopper, he said: "Carl’s the one who will probably miss a lot of this pre-season but we’re pretty confident we’ll have him back for the start of the season.”
Christopher Jullien appeared to be on his way out of Celtic but a move to Schalke broke down and the Frenchman is currently in Austria with the rest of the first-team and starred in the big friendly win and is set to be given his chance. Postecolgou admits Jullien's future is in his own hands and says whatever happens with take natural course and if a decision has to be made, then it will be.
He added: "Again, that’s pretty much in Christopher’s hands, it’s about what he thinks is best for his own future. I’ve said all along, and it was the same last year with Ryan (Christie), Odsonne (Edouard) and Kristoffer Ajer when they were here and doing the same sort of things in pre-season.
"I think if you ask those boys they would say that I treated them the same as everyone else, and Chris is in the same boat. What happens, that will take its natural course if and when decisions have to be made.”
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