The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Bitton a Nir perfect fit at centre-back for Hoops
DUNDEE: Midfielder wants to repay fans after second Dens Park setback
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers believes Nir Bitton is “perfect” for his new role as a central defender.
The 25-year-old midfielder took over from injured stopper Erik Sviatchenko in the first half of Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Rosenborg which set up a Champions League play-off tie with Astana of Kazakhstan.
Bitton started alongside Jozo Simunovic in the Ladbrokes Premiership opener against Hearts at Parkhead on Saturday and helped Celtic stroll to a 4-1 win.
Leigh Griffiths notched twice, with Scott Sinclair and Callum McGregor also on the scoresheet.
With Sviatchenko and Dedryck Boyata out until September with knee injuries, the Israel international, who joined Celtic from FC Ashdod in 2013, will continue to be deployed at the back with Rodgers’ confidence.
“You can see he is very comfortable in it,” said the Northern Irishman.
“Firstly he can defend. We haven’t just thrown him in there, he played a lot there in training and in a lot of exercises he has played centre-half.
“He is good in the air, he reads the game well as a defender, he is brave and he has the courage to play, he can get on the ball and starts the attacks from behind.
“I thought he was outstanding during the week when he came on and on Saturday, if you didn’t know he had played a lot in midfield in his career, you would say he looked like a top centre-half.”
Mark O’Hara admits the Dundee players are hoping that two wrongs will be followed by a right when they face Dundee United in the Betfred Cup on Wednesday night.
The Dark Blues suffered a desperately disappointing opening day Premiership defeat at Dens on Saturday, losing 2-1 to Ross County.
That was the second setback at home within the space of six days for Neil McCann’s men coming hot on the heels of the loss on penalties to the Tangerines in the Betfred Cup group stages last Sunday.
Now, O’Hara and his team-mates are determined there will be some home comfort for the club’s supporters when Ray McKinnon’s side return to Dens in two days.
He said: “We definitely owe the fans one as we have let everyone down.”