Gustaf Lagerbielke is quickly showing positive traits to key Celtic men such as Brendan Rodgers and Joe Hart behind the scenes at Lennoxtown – and everyone needs him to come up big over the next few weeks.
Despite only arriving at the club last week, Lagerbielke has suddenly found himself in place as the Bhoys’ most senior and talented central defender after injuries sustained by Cameron Carter-Vickers, Maik Nawrocki and Stephen Welsh.
He’s now set to be a key part of Rodgers’ starting eleven over the coming weeks with matches against St Johnstone and Rangers on the horizon, before stepping into the intensity of the UEFA Champions League.
Rodgers is already seeing maturity behind his youthful complexion and is eager to see how he develops from here, telling a media conference today: “He’s a very mature guy for someone who looks so young. He’s up to speed in terms of games, he only arrived into the building within a couple of days and was thrown into a tough away game at Kilmarnock.
“I’ve got absolutely no doubt he will prove over time to be an excellent player for Celtic and he’s really up for the challenge. I’m looking forward to seeing that development.”
Meanwhile, Joe Hart is similarly positive about his first impressions of the new signing, telling reporters on Thursday: “He’s a big, strong boy, with great energy about him with a huge smile on his face, but someone who gets over the white line and that smile’s gone and he’s all about business. I’m looking forward to seeing how he develops, and I’d love to be there to help him.”
Lagerbielke’s first match in Celtic colours may have ended in a defeat and a shock cup exit, but that will surely only motivate him more to go on and succeed at the Bhoys. He’s arrived in Glasgow with the potential to win trophies and represent himself in European competition.
The first few weeks look far tougher for him than anyone would have thought, but nothing ever comes easy for any Celtic player. Rodgers and Hart believe in him and hopefully he will show us enough quality over the coming matches to make fans trust him, too.
In other news, Celtic now identifying “magic” in closing stages of summer transfer window.
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