Jozo Simunovic failed to secure a move away from Celtic on transfer deadline day.
Celtic defender Erik Sviatchenko has suggested to The Glasgow Evening Times that Jozo Simunovic will carry on as normal.
Simunovic will remain at Celtic until January at least after his move to Italian club Torino in the summer transfer window collapsed.
As the 22-year-old defender has revealed on social networking site Twitter, Torino wanted to change the terms of the deal with Celtic at the last minute (click here to read more).
It must have come as a disappointment to Simunovic, but 24-year-old Celtic central defender Sviatchenko believes that the 22-year-old centre-back will be a professional and give his best for the Bhoys.
“In this case Jozo is a quality player and it’s not a defeat for him as he’s still at a club where he can develop,” Sviatchenko told The Glasgow Evening Times about Simunovic.
“You need to remember that he’s a young player too. Now he’s getting fit I’m pleased he’s getting back to shape.
“You have a contract and you have to respect that as well because you signed a deal and you have to be ready to work 100%.
“I haven’t spoken to him yet but when he is back everyone will say, ‘OK, Jozo, it is time to move one.’ He will know that. He is a professional player and a really good guy.”
Simunovic is a talented and promising young centre-back, but the 22-year-old has had injury problems at Celtic.
It seems that Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers did not consider the Croatian defender as part of his plans for this season.
However, the former Dinamo Zagreb defender should do his best in the coming weeks and months in order to force his way into Rodgers’s plans.
Celtic are favourites to win the Scottish Premiership this season and will also feature in the Champions League group stage.
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