For the next three months, at least, Liam Henderson’s career will be shaped by Kare Ingebrigtsen.
With the Norwegian season kicking off today Henderson finds himself in a similar position to Jason Denayer as he looks to make an impression that gets noticed at his parent club.
Ingebrigtsen and Ronny Deila have been involved in transfer business in the past with Stefan Johansen the player in question.
The midfielder’s move from Bodo Glimt to Stromsgodset never captured many headlines but it did kick start a career that led to Johansen being voted Norway’s Player of the Year for 2013 and a front runner for the Scottish equivalent.
Ingebrigsten had a brief spell playing with Manchester City in the early nineties, while winning 23 international caps, and has maintained a strong relationship with Deila as they moved into management.
After taking charge of Rosenborg last July, Ingebrigsten is hoping that he can do for Henderson what Deila did with Johansen.
“Someone with the talent Stefan had is a rare thing to see in Norway,” the Rosenborg coach recalled. “It was unique at the time he came through. I thought if everything clicked for him he could go on to be as good a player as he wants to be.
“But when Stefan was at Bodo he had to get away from the town. He was a talented young player and everyone in the town was telling him how good he was. Thankfully he moved out and ?understood that he had to work really hard – because his talent would only ?take him so far.
“He went to Stromsgodset which was a really good move for him as well. There he had Ronny and it’s good that he’s also his manager at Celtic.
“Ronny knows him and his game. He can play Stefan in a position where he gets the very best out of him. I thought going to Celtic was a ?brilliant move for him and his career, ?just like leaving Bodo was when he ?was younger.”
Rosenborg open their league campaign today at home to Aalesund.