Christopher Jullien is ready to return from a full year of misery.
And boss Ange Postecoglou reckons the comeback of the £7 million defender will be like having a new signing.
The Frenchman hasn’t featured for the first-team in exactly 12 months after sustaining a serious knee injury against Dundee United.
Jullien underwent surgery and has been through a lengthy period of rehabilitation which has kept him sidelined for all of Postecoglou’s tenure.
But, as the boss hunts the transfer markets for new recruits, he’s feels like he’s already adding a fresh face to his ranks after revealing the 28-year-old is on the brink of joining the group for full training.
Postecoglou said: “He’s had a couple of little setbacks, but we are hoping now that he’s at a point where he’s ready to train fully with the team and make himself available.
“He’ll be a great addition, he’ll be like a new signing for us and we are looking forward to having him back.
“Definitely. He’s a good player, he’s very commanding, he’s very confident in himself.
“So we will get him involved and I’m sure he can add to us.”
Jullien’s return will be a big boost to the manager and offer competition to Cameron Carter-Vickers, Carl Starfelt and Stephen Welsh in the central defensive unit.
The long-term loss of midfielder David Turnbull for at least two months has been a big setback to the squad.
But, in addition to any new signings that he manages to secure in the transfer window, Postecoglou is hoping he’ll have other injured stars as well as Jullien back for the campaign’s resumption when his team tackle Hibs in the Premiership on January 17.
Asked if others would be back, the boss said: “Some of them. Giorgos Giakoumakis, Jullien, Hopefully Jota.
“There are a whole host I could go through.
“But I’m pretty hopeful that the majority, by the time the resumption comes, will be there or thereabouts, which will be great for us. James Forrest is one of those as well.”
