Kristoffer Ajer happy to be Celtic’s emergency right-back

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Kristoffer Ajer has today admitted that he’s happy to be the emergency Celtic right-back for as long as necessary,

The towering Norwegian has made his name at Parkhead as a centre-back. It’s expected that he and Christopher Jullien will develop the number one defensive partnership that we’ll go with this season. That hasn’t changed either, but he’s certainly been getting used to an unfamiliar role.

Neil Lennon decided to place Ajer at right-back last Tuesday against Sarajevo. It was at the expense of the seemingly out-of-favour Anthony Ralston. Despite that, however, it worked to perfection as the Norwegian put on a typically solid show.

And speaking today to the press on Celtic TV, Ajer confirmed that he’ll continue to play wherever Lennon tells him to.

“I will always play where the gaffer puts me. So that will always be my thinking coming into every single game. I’ll always try to do my best in every single position I play, and hopefully that’s enough.

“Of course now I’m a centre-half, but if I’m to play a different position then I’m ready to do that as well. I want to develop so many points of my game.”

Ajer as the main Celtic right-back not ideal for Lennon

Lennon has already stated how he doesn’t see Ajer at right-back in the long-term, and thank goodness (BBC, 21:04). Not because he isn’t capable of playing in the position, but we miss so much when Ajer isn’t at centre-back.

The former midfielder’s driving runs from the centre is a real outlet for Celtic. When the Hoops are playing packed defences, Ajer’s ability to hold onto the ball during his mazy runs can help open things up. We lose some of that when he plays down the right.

But there’s no denying our man is capable of doing a job there. Nothing got past him in Sarajevo last week, and he still managed to connect with James Forrest at times in an attacking sense.

What Ajer won’t do, of course, is bomb down on the overlap and whip a terrific cross into the box. That’s the kind of energy and style we need from our new right-back, whenever we get one in the door.

In the meantime, and during the early Champions League qualifiers, Ajer will prove himself to be good enough. But there’s no denying this is just a temporary solution, and we can count ourselves fortunate we have such a versatile defender.