TRIALS, TRIBULATIONS AND TRIBUTES

Chris Jullien on the challenges ahead and his most recent Black Panther-inspired goal celebration

- JOE DONNELLY

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: JOE DONNELLY

DESPITE his prominent role in the heart of the Hoops defence, we’ve become increasingly familiar with Chris Jullien’s Superman-aping goal celebration, so prolific has the French centre-back been in front of goal in green and white.

You know the drill. The big man scores, he runs to the nearest touchline, mimics ripping open his shirt from his chest a la Clark Kent, before his jubilant team-mates swarm him – a routine best illustrated by his 60th-minute League Cup-winning volley against Rangers at Hampden last December.

When the 27-year-old hit the net two minutes into added time against Motherwell at Celtic Park the Sunday before last, however, he paid tribute to a different superhero.

Celtic were up 2-0 and cruising to victory as goals from James Forrest and substitute Albian Ajeti saw the Hoops on-course to secure three well-earned points. Given the home side’s chances, the scoreline flattered the visitors, but with the clock ticking down, Jullien was poised to the put the match out of sight.

After blocking the advance of Well forward Jermaine Hylton, the Frenchman burst from the back as team-mate Ajeti moved the counter-attack on to Jeremie Frimpong. The young Dutchman thundered down the inside-right channel, before squaring to Jullien, now on the edge of the opposing penalty box, who rolled the ball inside with his right, pivoted towards goal, and fired home with his left, into the far-right corner of the net. It was a finish any striker would’ve savoured.