Oliver Abildgaard expected to make full Celtic debut after development – expert
Frank McAvennie has suggested Oliver Abildgaard could make his first Premiership start for Celtic next Saturday.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Hoops striker said Abildgaard will likely replace the suspended Callum McGregor against St Johnstone.
McGregor was sent off in the Celts’ 2-1 win over Motherwell on Saturday after hauling down Ross Tierney.
Abildgaard was on the bench for the Premiership fixture and was subbed on to see out injury time.
It was the defensive midfielder’s first competitive appearance for the Green and Whites.
McAvennie suggested Ange Postecoglou could use McGregor’s absence to give Abildgaard his first start.
“I don’t know how far away Abildgaard is from getting a full 90 minutes,” he told Football Insider.
“If he’s been training hard, and from what I’ve heard he’s been doing extra training to get up to standard. If that’s the case he won’t be far away and they could bring him in.
“Bring him in and see how he is. It could be a good chance to give him 90 minutes. But they’ve got people in there that can fill in [for McGregor]. I think they’ve got more than enough cover in there.“
The Danish midfielder joined the Parkhead club in August on a season-long loan from Rubin Kazan.
As reported by the National (23 September), club director Oleg Yaronivsky said Kazan are “immensely grateful” to the 26-year-old who refused to push for a permanent exit in order for the club to command a higher fee for him next summer.
In other news, Agbonlahor has claimed Ange Postecoglou could sign ‘long-term’ deal amid Celtic ‘tapping-up’ claim.