A solid debut for a new signing is welcome for any position on the pitch, but none moreso than in central defence.
Celtic’s newest centre half Moritz Jenz got his career in Paradise off to the perfect start, scoring the winner in Dingwall in last Saturday’s 3-1 win over Ross County. The same cannot be said for the man he is currently deputising for in the side.
Starfelt was thrown into the deep end for a brutal debut in a 2-1 defeat at Tynecastle against Hearts last August and struggled. It’s an unenviable position for any new Celtic player to be in much less a defender, and though the Hoops were on the end of some questionable refereeing on the night, it was an inauspicious start for the Swede.
Adapting to a different style from his previous club Rubin Kazan’s was also going to be tricky, particularly in the chaos of Postecoglou’s first weeks in the job, as the Aussie had a squad to turn over and a philosophy to implement.
Starfelt recovered from his rough start, however, to solidify a position next to Cameron Carter-Vickers in Celtic’s centre of defence, and barring a blip in mid-December which included a sending off at Ross County, enjoyed a fruitful first season in Scottish football.
Although the 27-year-old undoubtedly merited his place, uncertainty over Christopher Jullien’s fitness and future left him basically unchallenged for a starting spot in the team – Stephen Welsh only ever deputising for injury and suspension.
His position will be less comfortable this year, as Jenz has made a case early on to be Carter-Vickers’ partner in the short-term, he will likely start tomorrow’s game in Ayrshire against Kilmarnock.
Celtic now have a job lot of very similar centre-halves, with near identical strengths and weaknesses. All are aerially adept, capable of passing forward when unchallenged but lack the ball progression that Kristoffer Ajer was capable of – particularly in their carrying.
Starfelt is the safest in possession and generally completes more passes than his partner Carter-Vickers, but there is little between them in most aspects.
He is, however, overdue in opening his scoring account for the club, and has passed up a number of chances for his first goal from dead ball situations – Carter-Vickers has no such issue, having scored, amongst others, the winner at Ibrox from a wide set-piece last April.
This will almost certainly come with time and Celtic have recruited another useful set-piece taker this summer in Aaron Mooy – proficiency in and around a defender’s own box remains a far more essential skill and this is something Starfelt will likely continue to excel at.
Missing the entirety of pre-season after his injury on international duty will be a blow, but Jenz’s signing gives little incentive to rush the Swede back for a game like tomorrow’s, on what promises to be a dry pitch at Rugby Park.
Ange Postecoglou confirmed he could be available on his press duties yesterday but that it’d be a late call regarding the Ayrshire trip. If it’s not tomorrow, he’ll almost certainly feature in some capacity against Hearts next weekend.
Starfelt can bide his time, and will know that he’ll be given an opportunity to regain his place once fully fit. Let’s hope that long-awaited first goal is a big one.
In other news: Academy talent scores ‘absolute screamer’ as Celtic B show mettle again
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