Cautious Rodgers vows to protect key man Simunovic
BRENDAN RODGERS will plot out a preservation job on the fitness of Jozo Simunovic in a bid to ensure his last remaining centre-half doesn’t fall victim to Celtic’s defensive injury jinx before the Champions League showdowns against Astana.
With Dedryck Boyata sidelined for three months and Erik Sviatchenko out for six weeks after damaging knee ligaments in Norway last week, Rodgers can ill afford to be without Simunovic when the riches of a place among the European elite are at stake.
Yet the Celtic boss revealed that Simunovic himself remains the focus of regular assessment by Celtic medical staff because of his injury issues.
He missed eight months last year with a knee fracture and was initially nursed along by Rodgers in his comeback, rarely playing twice a week on his September return before going on to make 33 appearances in the Treblewinning term.
The 23-year-old had been one of five central defenders absent last year when Celtic travelled to the capital of Kazakhstan in July, leaving Efe Ambrose and Eoghan O’Connell to shore up the back and return with a 1-1 draw that helped the Scottish champions progress to the play-off round.
Now Simunovic, partnered by midfielder Nir Bitton after Sviatchenko departed against Rosenborg, is the priority for protection as the teams prepare to clash again with a place in the group phase up for grabs.
Celtic travel to Kilmarnock’s artificial surface for a lunchtime league kick-off in between the European ties, with Rodgers hinting Simunovic won’t be involved in the domestic action. When asked if Simunovic’s issues were well behind him, Rodgers replied: ‘Not really, no. It’s about management. We always have to consider the load that Jozo has. But he’s definitely become much better and gained more strength in his knee as he went through.
‘He is not an injury concern. But it is one where you just have to monitor it, especially when you are looking at playing Kilmarnock on the astroturf then Astana away on the astroturf. We have to look at that.
‘All of a sudden we’ve lost Erik for six weeks plus, Boyata is out at a time when players are coming back and getting into competitive football very early. But I think those who are filling in have been great.’
Rodgers praised Simunovic for his stout defending against Rosenborg and backed his defence to perform again irrespective of the personnel change afoot for the next round.
‘Jozo is a very inspirational young player,’ said Rodgers. ‘I thought he was brilliant the other night — firstly in defending. He’s great when the ball is in the box. He’s normally got his head on the end of it.’