‘It’s a new beginning for me,’ why Jozo’s luck changed when Lenny arrived

WHEN we were the first to highlight Neil Lennon’s reluctance to play the four loan players at the club we were challenged on this assertion at the time. That was a week or so before the victory over the Rangers at Celtic Park – a match where Jerry Toljan came on as a second half substitute after a series of defensive injuries.

Toljan, on loan from Borussia Dortmund has lost his right back spot to Celtic veteran and Neil Lennon signing Mikael Lustig.

Oli Burke has had very few minutes recently – he was last seen in the Hoops as a late sub against Livingston at Celtic Park where with the game game goalless he missed a sitter in the closing stages.

Timo Weah has beeb coming off the bench late in games – we’re still not sure what happened to him on Saturday – but other than a start away to St Mirren he hasn’t had a real opportunity to play.

And Filip Benkovic, who looked an absolutely top drawer footballer in the closing months of Rodgers’ time at Celtic, has recovered from his ankle injury but has watched from the sidelines.

For whatever reason, Lenny is clearly reluctant to play the loan players. Why?

One theory in Burke – who stated that he’d love to sign for Celtic – is that by NOT playing him the player’s valuation in any transfer from West Brom would decreased to a level that Celtic could afford. Or to look at it the other way, by playing him Celtic would be knocking themselves out of the running for the player’s signature. It’s just a theory though.

Lustig is in the ahead of Toljan on merit and it is fair to assume that the German is not likely to be interesting Celtic as a potential signing target this summer. Whether Lustig gets his new deal – we suspect that he will incidentally – remains open to speculation.

Weah could be back – if the ‘new’ manager wants him – and PSG agree. They may have a change of mind given the lack of game-time their promotion young player has had in recent weeks, so that could be up in the air too.

And Benkovic isn’t coming back and isn’t getting a game unless there’s an injury to the two central defenders that Neil Lennon has looked to to form his first pick defensive partnership – Kris Ajer and Celtic’s No 5, Jozo Simunovic.

Both are going to be at Celtic in the summer for the European qualifiers so by playing Celtic players and not loanees there is an actual tangible benefit to be had.

Jozo is certainly pleased with the way things have gone for him personally under Lenny.

“I am feeling very good. I always think that when a new manager comes it brings something new, something positive or some changes,” the 24 year old Croatian told the media as reported this morning by Scottish Sun.

“The manager has brought that for me, personally, and for some of the other players here as well. I am playing consistently and that was the most important thing for me. Not just for me, every player wants the same thing.

“He doesn’t want to feel like he’s the fourth or fifth option. The manager has been good in speaking to everyone in the team. He did with me as well and we settled some things, how it should be, and the effect has been very good on me.

“I would say it’s a new beginning for me and I feel good.

“There are still important games before the end of the season and I am looking game-by-game, but I just want to go forward and keep going as I am at the moment.

“I believe that I can be better as a player and everything else. If you look in the past, I haven’t played as much. But I have come back and I am playing well again. Even at some points, I feel as though I may be playing better than I did before, so I didn’t lose the time when I was out of the team and not playing for the side,” Jozo said.

“When you are not in the team, it is a case of keep going and keep working. You have to be ready when the chance might come and that is what has happened with me. I want to stay in the team, but that will depend on my performances.

“I believe that I should have played at some points even before the new manager came into the club, but I couldn’t change that. Now that I am into the team, I have to keep going the right way.”

“But it is not only me. Every player who starts the game has that responsibility placed onto them. The responsibility to work with your team-mates, to help them if they are down in a moment, or if they make a mistake.

“You need to be positive and make sure that you are all together. I would say that is something that we have always been like in my time at Celtic. Sometimes, we have not played at the level, but we can work on it. It is all in front of us as long as you support your team-mates.

“There is always a big responsibility when you play at Celtic. At the moment, I just want to finish this season in the right way. Then, once that has happened, I can think about what is going to happen in the future.”

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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