Celtic’s defensive dilemma

It seems like since the first games of the season Brendan Rodgers has been searching for his preferred central defensive partnership.

Back in July Kris Ajer was somewhere down the list but over the last two months the teenage Norwegian has established himself as first pick.

While the form of others has opened the door to Ajer he has taken the opportunity with both hands showing a maturity and game awareness way beyond his years.

Erik Sviatchenko started away to Linfield but since being injured in Rosenborg his Celtic career has gone into free-fall with a loan deal back to Denmark arranged last month.

Rodgers has three options to play alongside Ajer if he goes with a back four with as much evidence against those players as there is for including them in the side.

At the start of the season hopes were high for Jozo Simunovic but his display against Partick Thistle had the alarm bells last heard at Tynecastle ringing out again.

Jack Hendry has one Celtic appearance to his name and was playing for Dundee at Inverness Caley Thistle a fortnight ago.

Sometimes circumstances present an opportunity to a young player with Rodgers best placed to decide whether Hendry is ready for a European night at home to Zenit.

Nir Bitton has been drafted into defence a dozen times this season but doesn’t look like a natural defender however that role is about balance and partnerships, perhaps that elusive pairing could be Bitton and Ajer?