Celtic defender Jozo Simunovic has been linked with Crystal Palace and Newcastle United – and Craig Gordon has hailed him.
Celtic’s Craig Gordon and Kolo Toure
Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon has told the Daily Mail of how impressed he has been with central defender Jozo Simunovic.
Simunovic, 22, was snapped up from Dinamo Zagreb on deadline day back in September 2015, with the Bhoys moving to sign him as Virgil van Dijk’s replacement following the Dutchman’s move to Southampton.
Celtic’s Jozo Simunovic in action with Rangers’ Barrie McKay
The Croatian may have been highly rated, but his first season at Celtic Park was frustrating to say the least. With a host of injury problems, Simunovic was only able to play 18 games last season, and he entered the new campaign with his position in some doubt.
Not only had Erik Sviatchenko been signed by Ronny Deila in January, but new manager Brendan Rodgers then arrived and signed his former Liverpool defender Kolo Toure, leaving Simunovic to be perceived as third choice centre back.
Celtic’s Jozo Simunovic in action with Rangers’ Jason Holt
The centre back saw his deadline day switch to Torino fall through (Sky Sports), and has been left to try and impress Rodgers in a bid to fight for his Celtic future.
Whilst Sviatchenko and Toure have started the season as Celtic’s first-choice partnership, Toure’s advancing years and costly mistakes against Borussia Monchengladbach meant that Simunovic was handed a chance to shine against Rangers last week – and he certainly took that chance.
Simunovic starred against Rangers and was one of Celtic’s top players on the day, which came just hours after the Daily Mail reported that Crystal Palace and Newcastle United were both keen to sign Simunovic in January.
Celtic’s Craig Gordon
Now, Celtic team-mate Craig Gordon has told the Daily Mail that he thinks Simunovic is a ‘fantastic’ defender, and feels he is a great player to have in the back line, suggesting he may yet have a future at Celtic Park amid so much transfer speculation.
“Jozo is a great player and still so young as well,” said Gordon. “He’s a fantastic centre-half, he’s got everything. He’s quick, strong, good in the air and calm on the ball. For the way we want to play he’s a great guy to have in there,” he added.
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