Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has tipped Hoops defender Carl Starfelt to earn a starting place in the Sweden international side, hailing the 26-year old for his performances in the side.
After a difficult start to life in Glasgow, Starfelt has grown into his role in the centre of defence, alongside Cameron Carter Vickers.
That partnership has played a key part in the Hoops currently holding the best defensive record in the league.
The defender has had his critics, but speaking in the aftermath of yesterday’s victory, Postecoglou praised Starfelt for his ‘outstanding’ form, turning around his Parkhead fortunes.
“It doesn’t hurt his chances certainly. He has been fantastic for us this year,” he said, as quoted by Herald Scotland.
“He had a difficult beginning with us and that is probably my responsibility more than anyone else because we kind of threw him in early in the piece.
“In the first game against Hearts he hadn’t even trained with us, he maybe had one session. We were still building a team, we hadn’t signed Joe (Hart), we hadn’t signed Cam (Carter Vickers), Josip (Juranovic) wasn’t with us yet.
“So, he was dealing with a lot of things at a new club and it is testament to his character he just gone with it.
“After the beginning he had it would have been very easy for him to drop his head.
“He never complained about it, he never made excuses but accepted the fact I put him in without a great deal of preparation but he has been superb all year.
“Now things have settled, the team has settled and we have started playing our football and he has come along with that.
“He has grown into his role at the club and it is no coincidence his form for us has been noticed by the Swedish manager.
“He has been outstanding for us I think his form with us will give us a great chance.”
It is great to hear Starfelt receive some great praise from Postecoglou, who like many fans have overseen the defenders top performances.
Particularly after the winter break, he has been almost faultless like many of this Celtic side, playing a key role in the brilliant run of domestic form, dating back to September.
It is clear to see how much Starfelt has grown in confidence across the campaign, and will look to keep that level of performance up in the final few fixtures of the season.
