Celtic supporters have been pretty satisfied in recent times despite seeing their side’s five-match winning run in the Scottish Premiership come to an end last time out.
Brendan Rodgers’ men went into their encounter with Livingston on November 11 having swept aside the likes of St Johnstone, Hibernian, Dundee, and Hearts in their impressive five-game winning streak, in which time they only shipped two goals. And while they kept an eighth clean sheet in the league at Almondvale Stadium, they weren’t able to record a sixth straight win in drawing 0-0 with Gary Holt’s side, albeit it was enough to take the Bhoys to the summit of the division for the first time this season.
Thus, there have been plenty of upbeat Celtic fans up and down the country in recent times, several of whom are hoping defender Kristoffer Ajer won’t be out too long after suffering a broken eye socket in the draw with Livingston last time out.
And with the 20-year-old having become a lynchpin in Rodgers’ backline in recent times, having been signed by former boss Ronny Deila for just £540,000 (as per Transfermarkt) back in 2016, it looks as though he is well on his way to becoming a Celtic legend.
Ultimately, the centre back made the move to Parkhead little under two years ago after beginning his senior career at Norwegian side Start, only to pen a four-year deal with the Bhoys back in February 2016 under the stewardship of ex-boss Deila.
Yet the young defender, capped six times by Norway at senior level, turned out just once under Rodgers in the 2016/17 season before securing a loan move to Kilmarnock, from which he has since returned to become a vital part of Rodgers’ defence at Celtic Park.
Ajer appeared 34 times in all competitions last season for the Bhoys as they again won the domestic treble, but what was significant was that the 20-year-old finished the season as a regular in Rodgers’ team to suggest that he felt the future of the Celtic defence was with the Norwegian ace.
And with 18 appearances in all competitions this term, seven of which coming in the Scottish Premiership in games in which Celtic have shipped just one goal, it’s plainly obvious that the centre back is now a hugely integral part of the squad at Parkhead, both in terms of the future of the club, and indeed the present under Rodgers.
The Bhoys seriously struggled for options at centre half earlier in the season due to various injuries, suspensions, and Dedryck Boyata’s reported refusal to play, but the form of Ajer alongside plenty of other defenders has banished those early season nightmares away – the Norway international looks set for a bright future at the club.
In fact, while Deila was relieved of his duties before ever getting the chance to select Ajer for Celtic, it was his masterful addition of the 20-year-old back in 2016 which has paved the way for Ajer to potentially become a legend at Celtic Park.
Celtic fans… what do you think? Let us know!
