Kris Ajer pays tribute to Celtic goalkeeping coach Stevie Woods

By John Reid

August 9, 2020

The Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer has paid tribute to the job that Hoops goalkeeping coach Stevie Woods does at the club, the Celtic View reports.

Woods has worked wonders at Celtic Park in recent seasons. He has helped the likes of Fraser Forster, Scott Bain and Craig Gordon have excellent seasons with the Hoops.

Now Woods is set to work with recent signing Vasilis Barkas. Ajer has pinpointed just how important Woods is to the club.

Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer / (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“Having another top keeper will help keep the competition in that position high just like it is in the rest of the squad” Ajer said, as quoted by the Celtic View (Volume 56, Issue 2, Page. 13).

“Will only improve”

“Woodsy does amazing work with all the keepers and Vasilis will only improve by working under someone like Woodsy.”

Even though Stevie Woods is obviously rated highly by all at Celtic. However, he does seem to be a bit of a secret in Scottish football.

That is probably a good thing. The last thing that Celtic will want is a club coming in to swoop Woods away from Celtic Park, particularly when he has had so much success in developing goalkeepers.

Interestingly, Neil Lennon has claimed that Barkas could make his first start for the Hoops against Kilmarnock this afternoon.

Coach will be involved in key discussion

No doubt he will come to the decision about who should start in goals after discussions with Woods. Keeping Woods at the club is probably one of the best things that Neil Lennon has done since returning as Celtic manager.

Fraser Forster might not have been so good last season for the Hoops without the help of Woods.

Celtic goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

It also shows how important Woods is to the club that Ajer, who is of course not a goalkeeper, can see the value that the coach beings to Celtic Park.

Hopefully Woods stays at Celtic Park for years to come. He can help develop the next generation of goalkeepers that will take the club into the next ten years and beyond.

In other news, some Celtic fans responded to a Jeremie Frimpong Tweet