Charlie Nicholas has floated a 'bust-up' theory between Josip Juranovic and Ange Postecoglou after branding his Rangers display as an 'absolute shocker'.
The Celtic star returned from a stunning World Cup with Croatia last midweek to take his place on the bench against Hibs with Reo Hatate used at right-back for the thumping win under the lights at Easter Road. New signing Alistair Johnston was then thrown in for a real baptism of fire in the full-back position against Rangers with Juranovic benched again.
He was called upon early on due to Greg Taylor limping off at Ibrox. Left-back is not an unfamiliar position for the defender having previously starred in the role for the Scottish champions but his performance left Nicholas shocked. He reckons it is the poorest he has witnessed from the 27-year-old in a Hoops jersey and believes that's what created Rangers' spark to get back into the game with Fashion Sakala's pace and direct running.
His future at Celtic is up in the air with the likes of Chelsea and Barcelona said to be keen to prize him away from Parkhead. But his performance was well below the high standards he has set at Ibrox with Nicholas floating one potential theory in his Scottish Daily Express column.
He wrote: "I don’t know what happened with Josip Juranovic not starting and then he was put on at left-back. I don’t know if he has had a bust-up with Ange Postecoglou before it but he had an absolute shocker and it showed when he came on.
"Left-back shouldn’t have been a problem for him because he has played there umpteen times before. The fact he wasn’t picked to start maybe Juranovic is thinking that Celtic are looking to sell him and this could be one of his last games. That is certainly the way it looked.
"I have never seen him that poor before because he is a player that I really rate. That was what created the spark for Rangers with Fashion Sakala’s pace down that side.
"Rangers went 2-1 up and had the game in the palm of their hand. Kyogo hardly had a kick but then turned up and netted a late equaliser. The game never lets you down in terms of drama but it was a truly uninspiring football match."
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