By Harry Sykes
Celtic fans paid tribute to Kristoffer Ajer after his impressive display in the team’s 2-0 Scottish Premiership win at Kilmarnock on Saturday.
The giant Norwegian was surprisingly named in the Hoops starting XI for the lunchtime clash at Rugby Park as Brendan Rodgers rang the changes in the wake of the midweek 5-0 Champions League demolition of Astana.
With the manager keen to keep his first-team regulars fresh for the upcoming play off second leg on Tuesday night, Ajer was one of six new starters along with fellow rookies Anthony Ralston and Calvin Miller, midfielders Stuart Armstrong and Callum McGregor, and summer signing Kundai Benyu.
The 19-year-old was given the nod after Nir Bitton dropped to the bench and Joze Simunovic, the other centre-back in the win over Astata, was omitted completely from the squad.
Celtic fans took to social media to run the rule over the youngster, with most being very impressed by what they saw.
Here is a selection of their messages on Twitter:
A goal in each half from James Forrest and McGregor sealed the win for the visitors as they took their points haul for the new season to nine from three matches.
Ajer joined Celtic from Norwegian club Start last summer as a holding midfielder but has been transformed into a centre-back by Rodgers.
He spent the second half of last season on loan at Kilmarnock and is now vying for a more regular role in the Hoops team.
In other Celtic transfer news, the odds have been slashed on the Scottish giants signing a West Ham big-money player.
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