Celtic striker Albian Ajeti has 'bought into' the philosophy of new manager Ange Postecoglou, sources close to the club have told The Athletic. 

The lowdown

Celtic sold Odsonne Edouard to Crystal Palace at the end of the summer transfer window and brought in Giorgos Giakoumakis as a replacement.

But Giakoumakis has yet to play a single minute for his new club. He's had to build up his fitness after undergoing only 'the bare minimum of a pre-season' with his former side VVV-Venlo.

He was in line to make his debut off the bench in Thursday's Scottish League Cup tie against Raith Rovers, only to sustain an injury in the warm-up (via The Times).

It's been Ajeti leading the line for Celtic following Edouard's departure, and he's bagged three goals, first a brace against Ross County and then the opener in the thrilling 4-3 defeat away to Real Betis.

The latest

Ajeti has enthusiastically looked to adapt to Postecoglou's 'high-octane' brand of football.

Sources say he looks 'sharper' in training than he did last season, while Kieran Devlin notes that he appears 'leaner, and fitter as a consequence'.

The verdict

Ajeti's first season at Celtic Park was unconvincing, but clearly he saw the arrival of Postecoglou as an opportunity to boost his prospects.

Will Giakoumakis struggle to dislodge him when he does eventually get fit? Maybe not, but Ajeti may now be viewed more as a competitor for the Greek international than a mere back-up.

That's not say he still doesn't have his critics. Ex-Celtic man Frank McAvennie, for instance, claimed he could have covered more ground at the age of 61 than Ajeti did against Livington last weekend.

The Swiss international 'never broke any kind of sweat', McAvennie added.

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