CHRISTOPHER JULLIEN has revealed he is “unsatisfied” at the lack of game time at Celtic.
The towering French defender, who cost £7million from Toulouse in the summer of 2019, insists he is “100 per cent” after his lengthy lay-off.
Jullien collided with a post making a goal-line clearance in the 3-0 league win over Dundee United at Parkhead in late December 2020 and missed the rest of the ill-fated campaign following surgery on his left knee.
The 29-year-old centre-back, who scored the League Cup winner over Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox outfit 12 months earlier, has worked well in training at Lennoxtown, but has played barely 20 minutes of first-team football in a remarkable campaign for the club with Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt the first picks for Ange Postecoglou.
Jullien said: “Since mid-January, I feel 100 per cent, after that it is the choices of the coach.
MATCHWINNER…Christopher Jullien runs away in triumph after netting in the 2019 League Cup Final with Odsonne Edouard in pursuit to congratulate his fellow-Frenchman.
“It belongs to him and he is successful. We have been champions since Wednesday and in December we won the Cup.
“For my part, I told the coach in January that I was ready to go.
“Now it’s his choice and sometimes he doesn’t name me on the bench because he prefers to take a midfielder who can play in central defence.
“I’m unsatisfied with my playing time this season because it’s frustrating and all I want is to be on the pitch.”
Jullien, speaking to Goal, added: “Despite the fact that I gave everything for this club and I would have liked to bring more to the team this year, the playing time is not there at all.
“I still have a year left of my contract here and I would like to continue playing but my priority is to be on the pitch.
CROCKED…Christopher Jullien inspects the damage after his collision with a goalpost in December 2020.
“In my situation and with this current playing time, it is not possible.”
Jullien made an emotional return to the first team during the 4-0 Scottish Cup win over Championship outfit Raith Rovers on February 13 at Parkhead.
He replaced Carter-Vickers in the 74th minute, but has yet to make another appearance, despite being named among the stand-by squad on several occasions.
Nir Bitton, who can double up in central defence and midfield, announced earlier today he will be leaving the club after tomorrow’s final league game of the season against Motherwell.
That could open the door to more game-time for Jullien in the new season and, of course, Carter-Vickers’ future has still to be settled.
The US international’s loan contract expires at the end of the month and he will return to parent club Spurs.
Postecoglou, though, is on record as saying he would like to keep the 24-year-old powerhouse who is valued at £6million by the London outfit.
