Christopher Jullien gave managerless Celtic a boost by insisting he’s on the road to ending his injury agony - and is praying fans are back inside Parkhead to greet his return.
The defender opened up on the horror knee injury which has sidelined him since Christmas and left him helplessly watching the Hoops’ disastrous end to the campaign from his home back in France.
Jullien hasn’t kicked a ball since colliding with a post in the victory over Dundee United on December 30.
The 28-year-old stopper has been undergoing intense rehab work back home in France and is past the halfway stage on his nine-month recovery timeframe.
As he returned to Celtic Park for the first time since his injury to help promote the club’s new away kit, Jullien said: “I’m good. In my last session in France I was starting to run on the pitch like before. I was happy.
“Now it’s about keeping going, working a bit more on my strength.
“I’ve never had big injuries. I never had the feeling of not moving that part of my body.
“At that time, when I got that shock, I couldn’t feel my leg. I didn’t have the feeling to move my leg.
“I remember Odsonne Edouard and everyone coming saying ‘hey it’s nothing’ but I told them it’s really something. It was definitely something!
“I am probably on a marathon. The injury is probably nine months and I’m about half way. I just can’t wait to be back.
“I can’t wait to see the fans in the stadium again. It will be the best present for my comeback.”
Celtic are still in talks with Ange Postecoglou over the vacant Parkhead hotseat.
The club are said to unfazed by the Australian’s lack of a UEFA pro licence and have applied for a recognition of competence in order for them to complete the deal.
Postecoglou can work towards his coaching badges - an 18-month process - whilst at Celtic Park, like Steven Gerrard did at Ibrox.
Jullien was helpless for the second half of the campaign as Celtic’s 10-in-a-row hopes went up in smoke.
The former Toulouse defender made 14 appearances before breaking down in the 3-0 win over United and admits it was agony watching from back home in France.
But as he steps up his rehab he can’t wait to get back on the pitch with his team mates at Lennoxtown.
He said: “You don’t have the testosterone every day, waking up and going on the pitch every day even against your team mates for a game.
“It feels like something is missing and when you see your teammates playing football and you’re unable to do anything it hurts for a long time.
“Just thinking of coming back and enjoying football again is a feeling I can’t wait to have.
“You are in your house doing nothing. You can’t do anything. That’s when you realise how good football is for you and how it is your life.”
