Celtic: Two potential knock-on effects as Juranovic injury update emerges

Celtic and Ange Postecoglou have had their injury concerns confirmed this week with Josip Juranovic set to miss a number of weeks. 

The Croatian right-back was injured during the game against their bitter rivals on the weekend and withdrawn after 67 minutes at Hampden Park.

And ahead of the game on the weekend at Dingwall against Ross County, Potsecoglou has confirmed their worst fears with a big title run-in ahead of them:

“Josip Juranovic is the most significant one, he will miss the weekend. It’s hard to say, the injury hasn’t settled down yet, but it’s fair to say (he will be out for) at least a couple of weeks. After that we are just going to have to see how it goes,” said the Australian.

With the Bhoys now set to be without their starting right-back, how could this affect the Bhoys as they aim to get their hands back on the Scottish crown?

Big blow for Postecoglou

Juranovic made the move to Glasgow last summer and hit the ground running at Parkhead with 26 appearances in the Scottish Premiership already to his name.

And in those games he has been able to provide the Bhoys with three goals and one assist in the league, as well as two goals in the Europa League (via Transfermarkt).

However, it is not his attacking contributions which are the most impressive this season, with his regular spot in what has been a solid backline standing out to us.

Aforementioned, Juranovic has made 26 league appearances and the Celtic backline has proven by far the toughest defence to penetrate with just 19 goals conceded.

With Postecoglou’s side now fighting at the business end of the season for the title, losing a regular starter in that backline will be a major concern with some huge games ahead.

Time for someone to step up

It was Anthony Ralston who replaced the 26-year-old at Hampden Park on the weekend and it would be expected the 23-year-old will be the natural replacement for the trip north on the weekend.

Ralston has also featured fairly prominently this season in the Premiership and the large majority of his starts have come when Juranovic has started at left-back.

The 23-year-old has proved more effective in attack than the injured Croatian with four goals and seven assists to his game in the Premiership (via Transfermarkt).

There are certainly worse positions that could have been affected by injury as far as Postecoglou is concerned, however, it is far from ideal ahead of the run-in.

And Postecoglou clearly has a lot of faith in the Scotsman having hailed the right-back earlier in the season on Celtic TV:

“He’s been enormous for us all year and he continues to be.

“He wasn’t even 100% tonight, with his ankle. But he’s a warrior, he’s a soldier, he loves this football club and he wants to make a career for himself.

In other news: Spotted: Potential Celtic selection hint emerges ahead of Ross County clash