Neil Lennon praised Albian Ajeti after he finally completed his first 90 minutes as a Celtic player and scored against Kilmarnock.
The former West Ham striker replaced Leigh Griffiths in the starting line up and showed enough to merit a starting place against Motherwell on Saturday.
During his Radio Scotland interview after the defeat from St Mirren on Saturday it was put to Lennon that the players brought in last year hadn’t made the desired impact, in reply Lennon named Griffiths as an established player that hadn’t made the contribution expected.
Lennon used four substitutes last night- including Patryk Klimala, Mikey Johnston and Moi Elyounoussi- but there were no minutes for Griffiths who looks to be on the outside looking in.
Discussing Ajeti, the Daily Record reports Lennon saying:
Hopefully he’ll get a run of games now. He looked very good, very strong tonight. He complemented Odsonne very well. It’s a good night’s work for him.
He was out of football for a long time last year. He then had fitness problems coming in. He gets in the team then had a couple of hamstring injuries when he was away with Switzerland. He pulled his hamstring again in maybe November time.
It’s been a slow burner for him. His work ethic hasn’t been good enough. He knows that and he’s changed that now. And he’s rewarded himself and obviously us and the team with a goal and a very good performance.
We want to get more out of him now because we think he’s a very good striker. He’s got to get his Celtic career really up and running now and that’s a good start for him.
Ajeti scored five goals before the end of September but until last night hadn’t netted since injuring himself scoring against Hibs on September 27.
With a £5m transfer fee and long term contract he looks like the man in possession to partner Odsonne Edouard in the coming matches.