Starfelt vows to fight for his jersey after injury woes
ANINE - POINT lead at the Premiership summit and managerial upheaval across the city – Celtic could hardly be sitting prettier in their quest for a second consecutive title.
But should any hint of complacency filter through at Parkhead, Carl Starfelt knows Ange Postecoglou will be there to shut it down.
The Swedish defender has spent most of the season watching his team- mates build that commanding advantage and is desperate to get back in the thick of it.
A knee injury sustained during the 4- 0 win over Rangers in September put Starfelt on the sidelines for almost nine weeks, his return only coming earlier this month against Motherwell.
Celtic have cruised into the winter break but the centreback isn’t entertaining the notion that another title is already in the bag.
“No, absolutely not,” he insisted. “There is a long season ahead and we are not even close to the halfway point, we always take it game by game like we did last season and that’s what we do.
“I think we also have very high standards. The manager is always pushing us every day to never relax. You can see it in training every day and we are trying to be at it and if we fall out of it then the manager is there to push us back into it. I am not worried about complacency.
“The manager sets high standards and I think that’s how it should be. If you throw players excuses then they will have them. You have to go out there and perform no matter the circumstances.”
Starfelt has returned to stiff competition in the shape of Moritz Jenz, who has partnered the ever- present Cameron Carter- Vickers in his absence. But the former Rubin Kazan star is convinced that will only bring out the best in him.
“It is good,” he said. “We have really good players and that makes for strong competition and not only in the centre- back positions but almost every position. That is how the manager wants it and that is how you push the players to never relax and always try to improve their game and I think that is what’s happening.
“It brings out the best in every player and you can never relax as you have to be at it all the time and that is a good thing for sure. You will always