Celtic starlet Kristoffer Ajer has insisted he is ready to make an impact at Parkhead in the 2017-18 season.
The 19-year-old arrived in Glasgow from Norwegian outfit IK Start last summer in a deal worth around £500,000, and Hoops manager Brendan Rodgers immediately set about transforming him from a central midfielder into a centre-back.
He spent the first six months of his time at Celtic with the Under-19s outfit, before being farmed out on loan to Kilmarnock in January.
Ajer impressed in the heart of defence at Killie, and he made 17 appearances across all competitions for the club in the latter half of last season.
However, the 19-year-old believes he is now ready to represent the Bhoys’ senior squad.
“I have learned a lot in the last year and I feel ready to play for Celtic in European games,” he told the Scottish Sun.
“For the first six months at Celtic, it was great working with the gaffer and learning from the top players here.
“My positioning has improved and my timing in the tackle is better. I feel much more in control of where I need to be when we don’t have the ball and are defending.”
Ajer will be fighting the likes of Erik Sviatchenko, Dedryck Boyata,
He started in the Hoops’ 4-0 friendly loss to Lyon on Saturday, so it appears he may be in Rodgers’ first team plans for the 2017-18 campaign.
The 19-year-old has been capped by Norway Under-21s on one occasion, as he made his debut in the 5-0 European Under-21 Championship qualifying win over Kosovo last month.