JOSIP JURANOVIC has admitted he would have played in goal to make his debut for Celtic.
The Croatia international defender was pitched into Ange Postecoglou’s team in an unaccustomed left-back role at Ibrox on Sunday only five days after his £2.6million arrival from Legia Warsaw.
Unfortunately, his bow in the green and white hoops was not successful and the right-sided back-four operator revealed playing in the No.3 position was “strange”.
Reflecting on the Glasgow derby, Juranovic, as reported in the Daily Record, said: “It’s a hard question which game is bigger, especially as it’s difficult to compare anything with Hajduk’s full Stadion Poljud.
“It was a wonderful feeling to play in a game between Celtic and Rangers, though.
“The only thing that was strange to me was that I had to play as a left-back.
“The manager wanted me to play there as he only had one young player left who was capable of playing that position due to injuries.
“I happily agreed with him because I wanted to make an impact in the derby.
“If there were no goalkeepers and he wanted me to play there, I would if I had to!”
Juranovic was pressed into service when Greg Taylor called off with a shoulder injury sustained in the Europa League play-off final against AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands the previous Thursday.
Postecoglou opted for the experience of the 11 times-capped defender in preference to Adam Montgomery, but it was obvious the Croat was not comfortable with the switch of flanks.
Now the Hoops manager has the happy problem of finding a place in his first team for Juranovic with Anthony Ralston proving to be a revelation at right-back this season.
