Josip Juranovic has become one of Celtic’s key players since arriving in the summer and despite Anthony Ralston’s major contributions through the course of the season, the Croatian international has been successful in establishing himself as the number one at right-back in Ange Postecoglou’s first-team. Heading into the most important phase of the season, the Hoops have suffered a huge blow though.

Injuries have been Celtic’s Achilles’ heel this season and Juranovic appears to have picked up one at the worst time possible.

Juranovic was forced off the Hampden Park pitch in the Scottish Cup semi-final against the Rangers. Celtic fans would have been hoping that it was a minor problem but it appears that the Croatian star could be out for a while.

As reported by Football Scotland, Juranovic will struggle for fitness before mid-May. That means he could end up missing the upcoming fixtures against Ross County, the Rangers, Hearts and potentially even Dundee United.

Celtic suffer huge Juranovic injury blow before key run in of games

To be very honest, Juranovic’s injury has come at a terrible time for Celtic. They are fresh off of the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat against the Rangers and this is the last thing that they needed at this point of time.

Celtic have to bounce back from that result as quickly as possible and now, it looks like they will have to do that without one of their most consistent performers in Juranovic.

Fortunately for the Hoops, they do have some solid back-up in the form of Ralston and while he has not been as good recently as he was in the first half of the season, he has shown that he is a player that can be counted upon on both ends of the pitch.

Celtic’s next game is against Ross County away at Victoria Park, where Ralston had scored a 97th minute winner when the two sides had met there the last time around. Incidentally, that was the last time, back in December, that The Staggies lost at home this season and as a result, the Hoops will have their work cut out for them this weekend.

This article was originally posted here