Celtic squad decimated by self-isolation as Christopher Jullien tests positive for Covid following Dubai trip

The majority of Celtic’s first-team squad have been forced into self-isolation after defender Christopher Jullien tested positive for coronavirus on returning from the club’s controversial trip to Dubai.

A club statement confirmed that 13 other first team players, as well as manager Neil Lennon and assistant John Kennedy, had been identified as close contacts.

Despite the huge impact on availability, tonight’s league meeting with Hibernian will go ahead as planned at Parkhead, with Celtic likely to have to call upon a significant number of youth team players.

The Scottish champions’ midseason training camp in Dubai was questioned by the country’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who has today encouraged the club to ‘reflect seriously’ on the decision to press ahead with the trip despite the worsening coronavirus situation.

A club statement said: “Celtic Football Club confirmed today that Christopher Jullien has tested positive for Covid-19 and is self-isolating at home. We wish Christopher a speedy recovery.

“While all of the other members of the squad and backroom team have tested negative, we have been informed by the authorities that, having been deemed ‘close contacts’, Celtic manager Neil Lennon, assistant John Kennedy and 13 first-team players will be required to self-isolate on a precautionary basis as required by the current regulations.  

“The Club would like to thank the Scottish FA, JRG and the Scottish Government for their assistance in managing this case. Celtic will, of course, fulfill its fixture against Hibernian this evening.  

“Clearly we are hugely disappointed, as we know our supporters will be. The contacts were identified during the period from Wednesday last week, primarily around flight and team coach travel, during which time Celtic applied the same rigorous protocols used for pre-season training camps, UEFA match travel and for all domestic match arrangements in Scotland.    

“These protocols have served us well in the past, as the Club has not had one positive case in our own ‘bubble’ until now. As we have already stated, Celtic’s decision to travel to Dubai for a training camp was for performance reasons. Whilst we were in Dubai, the announcements made on January 4 significantly changed the COVID landscape.  

“The reality is that a case could well have occurred had the team remained in Scotland, as other cases have done in Scottish football and across UK sport in the past week.”