JULLIEN POISED FOR EURO TEST

CELTIC’S £7million new Bhoy Christopher Jullien is poised to make his competitive debut against Nomme Kalju in the return leg of the Champions League second round qualifier in Estonia tomorrow night.

With the Hoops 5-0 ahead after last week’s emphatic 5-0 triumph, Neil Lennon will take the ideal opportunity to give the French central defender, who arrived from Toulouse earlier this month, some valuable game-time as he settles in at the club.

Jullien, who trained with his team-mates at Parkhead yesterday before they headed for Glasgow Airport, played 57 minutes of the pre-season friendly against Rennes and looked comfortable during his time on the field during the goalless draw in Glasgow.

Lennon has promised to look at utilising his squad ahead of the Premiership Flag Day opener against St Johnstone on Saturday and the probability of facing either Cluj or Maccabi Tel Aviv in the third European hurdle with the Romanians leading 1-0 going into tomorrow’s second leg in Israel.

Jullien will miss the league kick-off against the Perth outfit after a ban picked up in France followed him to Scotland, as CQN reported yesterday.

Lennon will have to look for a new central defensive partnership with Jozo Simunovic sitting out the first two matches following his VAR-assisted red card in the goalless draw against St Gallen in the friendly in Switzerland.

Nir Bitton has been helping out alongside the Croatian at centre-back, but the Celtic gaffer admits he rates the Israeli international in midfield.

However, look for the Irishman bringing in some fringe players in Estonia.