---
title: "Celtic: Jozo Simunovic and Greg Taylor are possible injury doubts for Copenhagen clash"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-jozo-simunovic-and-greg-taylor-are-possible-injury-doubts-for-copenhagen-clash/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "SPFL News"
published: "2020-02-18T19:00:31Z"
modified: "2020-02-18T19:00:31Z"
---

# Celtic: Jozo Simunovic and Greg Taylor are possible injury doubts for Copenhagen clash

**Celtic are sweating on the fitness of two defenders ahead of Thursday’s Europa League last 32 clash away to FC Copenhagen.**

As reported by the [Daily Record](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/celtic-boss-neil-lennon-explains-21511098), Neil Lennon is “hopeful” that he will have Jozo Simunovic back for the game after he missed Sunday’s trip to Aberdeen due to a hamstring problem, with the Croatian’s fitness to be assessed prior to the match in Denmark.

The [Daily Record](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/celtic-boss-neil-lennon-explains-21511098) added that Greg Taylor also faces a race against time to be fit for Thursday after he [limped off with a suspected hamstring injury](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/5288902/celtic-fc-news-greg-taylor-injury/) at Pittodrie at the weekend.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

Simunovic’s absence would be very disappointing for him on a personal level, having [recently re-established himself in the side](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jozo-simunovic/leistungsdaten/spieler/131327) after [missing five months](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jozo-simunovic/leistungsdaten/spieler/131327) due to a knee injury that required a surgical clean-out (as per [The Telegraph](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/09/27/celtic-suffer-injury-setback-jozo-simunovic-four-months/)).

However, his omission from the team is one that Celtic should be able to absorb without too much hassle, given that they [topped their Europa League group](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/standings/) without him and have two centre-backs in [Christopher Jullien](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/christopher-jullien/leistungsdaten/spieler/201737) and [Kristoffer Ajer](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kristoffer-ajer/leistungsdaten/spieler/328658) who have popped up with goal-scoring contributions of late. Lennon also has the option of putting Nir Bitton at centre-back, just as [he did against Aberdeen](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/3201770).

The possible absence of Taylor could be a discernible blow to the Hoops, though. The 22-year-old had been [enjoying a run of games in the team](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/greg-taylor/leistungsdaten/spieler/362562) recently after [struggling for minutes earlier in the season](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/greg-taylor/leistungsdaten/spieler/362562) and showcased his creative influence by [setting up two goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/3201764) in the 5-0 thrashing of Hearts last week in what Hamish Carton of [67hailhail.com](https://www.67hailhail.com/news/celtic-player-ratings-vs-hearts-celts-go-ten-clear-at-the-top/) lauded as “a coming of age performance”.

If the Scotland left-back doesn’t make it for Thursday night, it would leave Lennon deciding between Jonny Hayes and Boli Bolingoli to take his place in the team. The former [came on for Taylor](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/5288902/celtic-fc-news-greg-taylor-injury/) against Aberdeen but was [criticised by many Celtic fans](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/scottish-premier/celtic/celtic-fans-disagree-with-post-match-twitter-assessment-of-jonny-hayes/) afterwards and his performance at Pittodrie, in which he [missed a glorious chance to score](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/51431272), was derided as “absolutely shambolic” by Sourav Mahanty of [thecelticbhoys.com](https://thecelticbhoys.com/2020/02/16/5-hits-flops-celtic-2-1-win-vs-aberdeen/3/). Meanwhile, Bolingoli has been short of match practice, playing [only the cup win against Clyde](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/boli-bolingoli/leistungsdaten/spieler/168156) so far in 2020.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”278896″\]

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

While the possible enforced omission of Simunovic would be a shame given that he has only just regained a regular starting berth, Lennon should have enough in-form centre-back options to overcome the 25-year-old’s potential absence.

However, the prospect of Taylor missing out is a frightening one given Hayes’ unconvincing form and Bolingoli’s lack of recent action. Also, if the Scotland defender has indeed damaged his hamstring after the weekend, the chances of him recovering in time for Thursday [would seem very slim](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/5288902/celtic-fc-news-greg-taylor-injury/).

***Celtic fans, how damaging would the potential absences of Simunovic and Taylor be for Thursday? Have your say by commenting below!***