Pat Bonner has hailed Celtic defender Jozo Simunovic.
Celtic’s Jozo Simunovic in action with Rangers’ Barrie McKay
Pundit Pat Bonner has told BBC Sport that he felt Jozo Simunovic had one of his better performances for Celtic on Sunday.
Celtic took on Old Firm rivals Rangers for the second time this season on Sunday afternoon, as after the Bhoys recorded a 5-1 victory in the league in September, the two sides locked horns in the Scottish League Cup.
Celtic’s Jozo Simunovic in action with Rangers’ Jason Holt
Again, Brendan Rodgers’ side came out on top as Moussa Dembele’s late winner handed Celtic the victory at Hampden Park, setting up a final clash with Aberdeen.
The margin of victory may have been much smaller than it was last month, but Rodgers will be delighted to have again got a win against Celtic’s biggest rivals.
A number of players impressed for Celtic, but defender Jozo Simunovic has been singled out for praise after his performance on Sunday.
Celtic’s Jozo Simunovic in action
The Croatian defender, 22, has endured a frustrating spell in Glasgow since joining from Dinamo Zagreb in 2015, making just 18 appearances last season due to a number of injury blows.
Simunovic has largely started this season behind Erik Sviatchenko and Kolo Toure, and saw a deadline day move to Torino fall through, whilst the Daily Mail claim that Crystal Palace and Newcastle are both keen on the centre back.
Celtic’s Jozo Simunovic celebrates scoring their second goal
Simunovic did though impress against Rangers, prompting former Celtic goalkeeper and current pundit Pat Bonner to tell BBC Sport that he felt it was the defender’s best performance for Celtic – meaning Rodgers may prefer to keep him rather than let him go to Palace or Newcastle in January.
“Made a couple of very good blocks, particularly Holt’s effort late on because he took up a good position, read the game well, stepped out to pass the ball and was strong in the air,” said Bonner. “One of his better performances for Celtic,” he added.
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