TOUGH LESSON
go out and hear 60,000 fans screaming and hoping you win then you put everything you can into the game – I’m sacrificing my body for this team,” he said. “I’ve been in the gym after every training session since day one here. It’s been beneficial for me to bulk up a bit. I’ve got a really good programme to follow in terms of bulking up and explosiveness and also technical stuff on the pitch.”
The rewards are likely to bring a first senior call-up for Norway’s next fixture in March. He had cause to reflect this week on the possibility his career could be mirroring the trajectory of Brede Hangeland, a man he considers to be one of the iconic centre-backs of recent times in his homeland.
“He was the captain of Norway for a long, long time and someoneiadmired,”saidajer. “He played also as a central midfielder in Norway when he was younger, I discovered a few months ago. We’ve taken a similar path. But obviously he played a lot of games in Norway and I’ve still got a lot of
“After [losing four goals in Astana] we sat down and looked through my clips and I learned a lot”
KRISTOFFER AJER development to go to reach his level. [I met him once] when I was 15 and involved in my first national squad. He was there to talk to us and give us information and advice. He was the captain of Norway and a big, big player and all of us looked up to him. It was great to see him and get advice.” Nadir Ciftci believes there is “always hope” he could have a future at Celtic as he looks to rejuvenate his career while on loan at Motherwell.
The 25-year-old Turkish striker, who signed for Celtic from Dundee United on a four-year deal in 2015, had been on loan to Plymouth for the first half of the season, following previous loan spells with Eskisehirspor and Pogon Szczecin in Poland.
Ciftci will spend the second part of this campaign with Motherwell and, speaking at a media conference at Fir Park, when asked if he felt he still had a future at Celtic, he said: “There is always hope and there are always doors open so I will think about it when the season is finished.
“All I want to do right now is concentrate on Motherwell, they have given me this chance to show myself.
“I will give everything that they have given me and look forward to the summer and whatever is going to be.
“I obviously have another year left with Celtic but I will think about it in the summer. Until then I will give everything for Motherwell.”
Ciftci, who could make his Motherwell debut in the William Hill Scottish Cup tie against Lanarkshire rivals Hamilton tomorrow, stressed there is no problem between him and Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers.
He said: “He has been great for the club, for the players and it has been good between me and him. It is just that I have not been able to play under him but I have always rated him highly.
“I tried everything I had. It has been up and down at Celtic for me but I am happy to be here to concentrate on Motherwell. The people around the club made me feel so comfortable in just one and a half weeks so it feels much different to other moves I have made.
“I will give whatever I can, sometimes it will be goals, sometimes it will be assists, but I am not putting myself under the pressure of needing to score goals. Obviously that will be good but first I have to help the team.”
“When you hear 60,000 fans screaming for you towinyouputin everything you can”