Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou is confident Carl Starfelt will be fit for their Premiership opener with Aberdeen at the end of the month, writes Scott Burns in Austria.
The Swedish international limped out of last month’s Nations League match against Slovenia with a hamstring injury. Postecoglou won’t be taking any chances with his central defender in pre-season because he wants to make sure he is fit and ready for when the competitive action starts - with Celtic ’s flag day against the Dons.
Postecoglou confirmed: “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.” It leaves Celtic a bit short of experienced central defensive options for the remainder of their pre-season fixture list. Christopher Jullien is currently filling that void although his Celtic future remains up in the air. The Frenchman wants to play and saw a move to German side Schalke collapse last week. Postecoglou insisted it is very much down to the player to decide if he wants to stay or go.
He admitted: “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.”
Julien started Wednesday night’s thumping seven goal win over Wiener Viktoria and was even given the armband in the second half after Joe Hart had gone off. When asked what he thinks the future holds for Jullien, he diplomatically answered: “No, I don’t delve into that. For me, while he’s here and wearing our shirt, I’ll treat him like a player of our football club as I do with every one of them until the moment they decide their future lies elsewhere.
“I’m pretty relaxed about these things, but it is important with all the players that they make decisions that are best for them. If that’s with this football club then fine, but if it’s not, then that’s fine as well.”
Goalkeeper Ross Doohan has already sealed a permanent move to Tranmere Rovers and Ismaila Soro has also remained back in Glasgow and could also follow him out the exit door.
“There’s a few boys in that boat,” Postecoglou admitted.
“I think for every footballer part of the process is to see how they fit or whether they fit into a picture.
“They all want to play, which is understandable, and sometimes those decisions mean they have to play elsewhere.
“But again, with guys like that, I’m having dialogue with them and it will take its natural course.”
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