Kennedy lays down the law for tricky Torino

Celtic coach John Kennedy insists that Jozo Simunovic will not be going anywhere despite a renewed interest from Torino.

A summer move by the Serie A side fell through after he flew to Italy on deadline day after they attempted to renegotiate previously agreed terms.

Speaking about the 22-year-old’s future to the Glasgow Evening Times, Kennedy said:

We want to keep him here. That’s important. He’s a big player for us now and he’s shown that in the last couple of Champions League games. He’s a top player and we want to keep our best players.

Jozo is a top centre-back. Even when we looked at him, away back when he was at Zagreb, he was the one everyone agreed was the best option. When you’re talking about bringing in quality, he is that. He’s one that you bring in to improve the team.

He’s got the height, the strength, the speed and technically he’s very good. On top of that, he’s got a fantastic attitude. Nowadays proper centre-backs are very hard to come by.

You get a lot of centre-backs now who don’t really want to defend and that becomes a problem for you when you are put under pressure but he’s certainly one that likes to put his head in. He makes tackles but he can play when need be.

Simunovic’s recovery from a frankly horrific knee injury has propelled him to new heights in the Celtic team this season and is now valued at £10 million by the club.

Making his Champions League debut against one of the greatest  at Barcelona and a further appearance against Manchester City earlier this month has shown he can mix it with the very best.

Despite making just 17 appearances last season and drawing criticism from fans due to the fee the club coughed up for him, but he has proven any doubters wrong with resolute performances game after game alongside his preferred defensive partner Erik Sviatchenko.

Celtic and Simunovic are in action again on Saturday at home against Dundee and the Croatian centre-back will likely start after being rested in midweek as medical staff carefully monitor his rehabilitation from knee surgery.