Rodgers comments on Simunovic’s return

Brendan Rodgers has spoken positively about the return of Jozo Simunovic after his deadline day transfer fell through.

The Croatian has been out injured sine January and only returned to training with the Celtic before flying to Torino one day before the window shut.

After passing a medical and agreeing personal terms, the 22-year-old was left in limbo as the Italian side tried to change their agreement with Celtic over Simunoivc’s transfer and get him on loan.

Speaking about the defender to Celtic TV, Rodgers said:

Yes. I haven’t seen a lot of Jozo, so I haven’t seen his entire qualities, but he is just coming back to fitness.

He has trained a couple of times with the team and I like what I see.

He obviously has a long way to go in terms of that physical fitness as he has been out for so long.

But he is a young player, he is very hungry. I like him as a boy.

Obviously the move didn’t work out for him or the club, but maybe it was fate.

Maybe he is meant to be back here, playing, working and we welcome him with open arms back to here and let’s see if he can produce good performances for Celtic.

It is unclear when Simunovic, who made 17 appearances last season, will return to full match fitness and be fit to play in the first-team again but will have over a week to train in Glasgow during the international break.

Celtic’s first game after the international break will be against newly promoted side Rangers, who are a point behind the Hoops and have played a game more than the five-in-a-row champions.

Three days later Celtic will mark their return to the Champions league with a trip to Barcelona, and Simunovic will be hoping he has returned to the side for the return leg at Paradise in November against the La Liga champions.