Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers recently admitted to a lack of defensive depth at the club, and it’s believed the position will be strengthened over the January transfer window.
Bosnian centre-back Jozo Simunovic is currently on the sidelines, and has been largely unfit this campaign and since arriving from Dinamo Zagreb in the summer of 2015 as replacement for Virgil van Dijk.
The 23-year-old missed last week’s Champions League 3-nil loss to Bayern Munich, and former Rangers striker Kris Boyd believes his mentality, rather than injuries could be standing in the way.
Writing in his Scottish Sun Column, the 4-time Scottish Premier League Top Scorer said: “Jozo Simunovic is injured again but it’s not his latest hamstring niggle that Brendan Rodgers will be annoyed about.
“It’s the defender’s mentality that could be concerning the Celtic boss. Rodgers needs players he can rely on and trust right now with so many big games coming thick and fast. Unfortunately, Simunovic keeps letting him down.”
Boyd believes while the defender wouldn’t mind playing against smaller oppositions even when not 100% fit, he is quick to rule himself out of the big games, and that could be a factor that might stop him from reaching the top.
The pundit further wrote: “I just look at Simunovic with his recent history and see a player who isn’t willing to put himself out there unless he feels in tip-top condition.”
“For Rodgers, that’s absolutely no use. This is a player who could go to the top. Simunovic is a talent all right, someone who could get a move to the next level.
“When you watch him play, or play against him like I have, there’s no doubt he’s got all the attributes needed.
“But Rodgers spoke the other day about how top players need to play consistently to be known as top players and he’s absolutely spot on. Looking at that comment, I took it that he’s becoming increasingly frustrated with the defender.
“It was interesting that he spoke about how Scott Brown and Stuart Armstrong had similar niggles, yet they felt fine. Simunovic better be careful.”
Celtic travel to play Aberdeen on Wednesday, and will have to be in top form to extend their domestic unbeaten run to 61 games.
Rodgers will have to do without Simunovic in his lineup, and while another player should be able to do the job, there is no denying that the manager would have loved to have the Bosnia international play against the 2nd best team in the land.
