Erik Sviatchenko fell out of favour under Brendan Rodgers last season and he now has another challenger for his Celtic posiiton.
It’s fair to say Erik Sviatchenko was left less than impressed as he tumbled down the pecking order in the second half of last season.
An almost undisputed starter in the first few months of Brendan Rodgers’ reign, the surprise emergence of the hitherto frozen out Dedryck Boyata meant the Danish centre-back was forced to settle for a place on the bench on more than one occasion.
“It is obviously a tiresome situation, especially when I’ve had such a big role until July and then not be as dominant as I’d expected. Right now it’s frustrating,” Sviatchenko, at the time linked with Leicester City and Southampton, told Danish publication BT.
Sviatchenko was left out of the title decider against Hearts
And if reports that Boyata could be set for three months on the sidelines with a knee injury gave Sviatchenko hope that he could once again nail down his place in the heart of the defence, it appears that he has a new challenger to partner first choice Jozo Simunovic.
Kristoffer Ajer has returned to Parkhead after an impressive half season at Kilmarnock and he told The Express that manager Brendan Rodgers sees him as a full-time centre-half rather than a defensive midfielder.
“I am now a centre-half. I always knew that would happen one day,” the 19-year-old said. “Now it’s better for me to focus on that defensive role and work on developing there. I have learned a lot in the last year.”
New kid on the block
Ajer slotted in impressively at centre-half during Celtic’s pre-season friendlies and, although Sviatchenko got the nod for the first-leg of The Hoops’ Champions League qualifier against Linfield, the latter should be looking over his shoulder.
Ajer played 12 times on loan at Kilmarnock
Rodgers is never afraid to throw young players in at the deep end and, as Sviatchenko found out last season, he’s also more than willing to drop a big name when he sees fit.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
