IT MAY be wishful thinking on the part of their supporters but Celtic may just have found an answer to their recurring problem in central defence – in the shape of a teenager who is better known as a midfielder.

Many Celtic fans left Parkhead on Saturday purring at the performance of 18-year-old Norwegian Kristoffer Ajer in the 2-1 victory over Wolfsburg.

It is early days and first impressions, of course, but Ajer could well be the answer in a position that another Scandinavian, Johan Mjallby, made his own, namely that of a ball-playing central defender – and the big Swedish international also came to Parkhead as a midfielder before Josef Venglos changed his career.

Saturday’s friendly was seen as ideal for blooding the teenager and manager Brendan Rodgers had indicated that he would appear off the bench in the second half. However, 18 minutes into the match, Ajer got an unexpectedly early introduction to life in the hooped jersey after Erik Sviatchenko went off with a nasty head knock.

The Dane is none the worse, say the club, and should be fit for the return leg of the Champions League qualifying tie against Lincoln Red Imps on Wednesday.

Not surprisingly, Ajer seemed a little nervous at first but he then began to show real skill and looked entirely comfortable playing out of position. He has the height and presence of a proper centre-back and he deservedly won the man of the match award.

Whisper it, but he even seemed to inspire some confidence in Efe Ambrose, who came on at halt-time.

Ajer went off after 76 minutes to a loud ovation, and with Rodgers changing the entire team at half-time, Ajer actually got more game time than anyone else in green and white.

Paul Seguin gave Wolfsburg an early lead with a deflected shot after 12 minutes. Callum McGregor equalised with a fine finish 10 minutes later before Ryan Christie showed neat footwork to net the second-half winner.

It was a victory that restores some confidence after the dreadful defeat by the team from Gibraltar, and maybe Rodgers has the greatest of all managerial attributes – good luck – as he was forced to play Ajer early and out of position.

Signed by fellow Norwegian and former manager Ronny Deila, Ajer is as cool and composed off the pitch as he is on it. He knows there are players ahead of him in the queue for places at Celtic but said he is ready and willing to change his game to win a place in the starting XI.

Ajer told the Celtic website: “It was my biggest experience ever, running out there without warming up. I made some mistakes in the beginning that I’m not proud of but after a while I performed well and it was a big experience hearing the fans shouting on me. The biggest crowd I’d played in front of was 12,000 so playing in front of so many people was amazing.

“It’s a big honour playing for Celtic and to get man of the match is brilliant. I came to Celtic to play and if he [Rodgers] gives me the opportunity, I’m ready. He has a lot of midfielders and he knows I can play there but he also wants me to develop as a centre-half. I think is good to be able to play more positions.

“I’m working to develop and to play games and if that means I need to play centre-half I will play there.”

If Ajer of Norway ends up even half as good as Mjallby of Sweden he will be one legacy of Deila that Celtic will truly appreciate.