CALMAC’S WARNING FOR JULLIEN

CALLUM McGREGOR has fired a warning to Christopher Jullien if Celtic come face-to-face with Moussa Dembele in their pre-season preparations.

The champions are poised to rubber-stamp fixtures in France against Lyon, Nice and Paris Saint-Germain within the next few days, as reported by CQN earlier today.

That would mean the Hoops facing old favourite Dembele who quit Parkhead in a £19.8million switch to Lyon in June 2018 around the time of his fellow-Frenchman Odsonne Edouard’s £9million arrival from PSG.

The showpiece encounter would see the international powerhouse coming up against another compatriot in Christopher Jullien who has made the centre-back role his own after 45 appearances following his £7million move from Toulouse last summer.

Scotland midfielder McGregor, speaking to the Daily Mail, said: “I’ve been reading about the possibility of this kind of thing and it would be great.

“Normally, pre-season games are a bit of a drag – but this year is different.

“We just want to get back playing and it would be great to get the chance to go somewhere and go up against a PSG or Lyon.

“I’m sure a change of scenery would be positive – and it would be nice to go up against Moussa.

“You hear about his stuff on social media and in the interviews he gives, he clearly still loves the club. He’s been pretty vocal, he’s a die hard now!

“The players and fans have a strong bond, even after they move on they appreciate what they did for the club.

“Moussa obviously appreciates the support he got, as well.

“It would be great to see him, but it might not be much fun playing against him. Big Christopher Jullien will have his hands full.”

Neil Lennon is preparing his troops before the club’s tilt at the historic 10 titles in a row.

Lennon had already stated his desire to get his players overseas during the summer and with quarantine restrictions ready to be lifted a formal announcement of the schedule is expected at the start of next week.

Lyon finished seventh in Ligue 1 last season. As well as former Parkhead hitman Dembele, they boast Jason Denayer, the Belgian defender who spent season 2013/14 on loan at the club from Manchester City.

Nice, managed by Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira and skippered by former Bayern Munich defender Dante, have just signed Morgan Schneiderlin from Everton, as they seek to build on the fifth place they secured last term.

PSG, champions in seven out of the past eight seasons, have already played Celtic, then managed by Brendan Rodgers, in the Champions League in recent seasons and it didn’t end well for the Scots, hammered 5-0 in Glasgow and 7-1 in Paris.