Olivier Ntcham grabbed the headlines and the man-of-the-match award but there was another performance that must have given Brendan Rodgers plenty of satisfaction.
Kristoffer Ajer has quietly eased ahead of Erik Sviatchenko in the pecking order and racked up two impressive, composed performances in Celtic’s last two matches.
At home to Motherwell he was a traditional central defender, last night against Kilmarnock he played on the right of a back three and never put a foot wrong.
Defensively he is more than a ‘good solid unit’, in possession there are signs of a young Roy Aitken as he pushes forward with confidence. He doesn’t believe in Row Z defending.
The 19-year-old could easily have been abandoned when Brendan Rodgers came in- yet another midfielder left over from the Ronny Deila era that hadn’t kicked a ball in Scottish football.
Rodgers immediately switched him into central defence with a loan stint under pressure at Kilmarnock accelerating his development.
The Celtic boss is looking to bring in at least one central defender in January- with Ajer progressing rapidly a new look central defensive partnership may be about to be launched.
Another promising game last night from young Kristoffer Ajer, one for the future pic.twitter.com/KGg995hrhM
— Lisbon Lion (@tirnaog09) December 14, 2017
I’m digging the calls for Kristoffer Ajer to play at centre half. He’s composed on the ball which is something we are currently requiring at the back since our defence folded under pressure applied by Hibs last Sunday.
— Samrat (@SM1967_) December 12, 2017
