Ange Postecoglou’s Boxing Day Dilemma ahead of trip to Easter Road

Ange Postecoglou will consider all three options open to him over the next few days before deciding who will play at right-back for Celtic on Wednesday night at Easter Road.

Celtic are back in training today after a day off on Christmas Day and the squad will be joined by World Cup bronze medalist Josip Juranovic who returns to training after his post-Qatar week off. Ange Postecoglou will be keen to assess his fitness after picking up a calf knock that kept him out of Croatia’s third place play-off win over Morocco.

Kevin De Bruyne of Belgium crosses the ball past Josip Juranovic of Croatia during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group F match between Croatia and Belgium at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on December 01, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

“It’s Monday we’ll get him back in. Josip’s had a slight injury, so we’ll see how he is. It’s unlikely he’ll be available for Hibs, but we’ll see,” Ange Postecoglou stated, as reported by Scottish Sun. “Until we set eyes on him, we’ll see what condition he’s in. We won’t throw him back in unless he’s absolutely ready to go.”

With Juranovic more likely to be included in the manager’s plans for the trip to Ibrox on 2 January 2023, the Celtic boss will have to look elsewhere for his midweek right back selection for the game against Hibs.  That’s going to come down to choosing between Anthony Ralston, who picked up an ankle knock against Livingston last midweek, which kept him out at the weekend in the 4-1 win over St Johnstone or alternatively to stick with  makeshift right-back Reo Hatate who not only picked up the Man-of-the-Match awards against the Perthshire Saints but also scored a brace with only the post denying him a hat-trick.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – DECEMBER 21: Anthony Ralston of Celtic receives medical treatment during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Livingston FC at on December 21, 2022 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“We’ll see with Ralston. He improved on Friday and reports are he improved on Saturday. There’s two days before the Hibs game, so we’ll give him every chance. We know what Tony’s like, he’ll give himself every chance,” the Celtic manager stated.

If Ralston doesn’t make it then Postecoglou will have no worries about asking Hatate to  go again at right-back. “Reo was great. He handled it well. I spoke to him about it on Friday and he was all-in. I remember watching him play left-back earlier in his career in Japan. But he’s not a full-back, he’s a midfielder.

 Reo Hatate of Celtic celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and St. Johnstone FC at on December 24, 2022 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“With the way the game was going to go he’d give us a hell of a lot going forward with his passing and creativity,” Ange said.

New signing Ally Johnston isn’t available for the game against Hibs as his registration as a Celtic player awaits the opening of the transfer window on 1 January, so in theory he could be an option for a debut at Ibrox.

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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