KRIS Ajer said last night that he is ready to put his head in where it hurts again in what promises to be a bruising battle against Aberdeen on Sunday for a William Hill Scottish Cup final place. The 20-year-old Norwegian, who earned new respect from the Parkhead supporters in the last week or so for a series of match-winning tackles in the Old Firm derby against Rangers, was on the wrong end of a Duckens Nazon elbow in midweek and was playing on Saturday with stitches freshly removed from a recent facial injury. With Sam Cosgrove likely to lead the line for Aberdeen on Sunday, Celtic’s Viking warrior can be sure of another aerial battering but the converted midfielder insists he is prepared to put his body on the line again.
“As a centre half you have to get used to that kind of stuff,” said Ajer. “When you go up to win these duels you know something can happen. But you always have to go in 100 per cent or you shouldn’t be playing. That will never be a concern for me.
“He [Cosgrove] has done really well this season,” Ajer added. “We know Aberdeen are in great form right now and they will make it really difficult. It will be a battle and we have to win the physical battle before you earn the right to play. My stitches had been in for a week but the doctors did a fantastic job. I’ve had enough head knocks this season so hopefully there’s no more to come.”
With Dedryck Boyata likely to have played his last game for the club and Filip Benkovic set to return to parent club Leicester this summer, Ajer’s continued emergence is timely considering Celtic are likely to have Champions League qualifiers this July. He said he had watched the clips of his crucial tackles against Rangers’ Joe Worrall and James Tavernier back. “I don’t score that many goals so I have to celebrate the stuff that I can,” said Ajer. “It was a great feeling to have that tackle and my reaction was to celebrate it. When you hear the fans celebrating your tackle like that, and you know how much it means to everyone, the adrenaline starts pumping and you just want to celebrate. It was a good feeling. I’ve watched it back a few times. I always get clips sent to me after every game.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here