Carl Starfelt was handed what Celtic supervisor Brendan Rodgers feels will probably be a farewell look in a 4-2 cinch Premiership opening win over Ross County.
Starfelt began on the bench with Maik Nawrocki making his debut in central defence earlier than the Swede got here on for the ultimate quarter.
The centre-half’s accomplice, Jacynta Galabadaarachchi, left Celtic for Sporting Lisbon this summer season and Starfelt seems to be set to comply with her out of Glasgow after two years on the membership.
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Rodgers stated: “I wished to place Carl Starfelt on as a result of it may be his final sport right here. He has been an incredible servant to the membership. There’s curiosity in him and he want to take up that risk. We’ll resolve that as fast as we are able to.
“The golf equipment are in communication so I’m positive that can undergo in some unspecified time in the future early subsequent week, if not earlier than.
“He in all probability felt it was the time to maneuver on. There are specific circumstances there that has made him suppose he will probably be going to one of many prime leagues, and economically it’s onerous for us to compete on that aspect, and clearly his accomplice is now not right here and has moved on.
“However I’ve to say, whole skilled, first-class and if it didn’t undergo, I do know I can depend on him, however I feel it in all probability will.
“We would wish to get one other centre-half. My thought is to get 4 centre-halves who’re aggressive.”
David Turnbull netted twice within the season opener after being handed his first Premiership begin in 9 months. The midfielder opened the scoring from the spot and netted from Matt O’Riley’s cross after Kyogo Furuhashi had notched his first objective of the season.
Rodgers stated of the previous Motherwell participant: “He’s a expertise. I bear in mind seeing him once I was first up right here and I favored his sport and he perhaps simply hasn’t fairly hit the heights of what his expertise is.
“I spoke to him in pre-season and instructed him it could be a disgrace in case you don’t obtain what you are able to do at a membership like this, as a result of you’ve the expertise, however it’s a must to be a working expertise, and you’ve got to have the ability to run and be aggressive in your sport. If you are able to do that, then your qualities will come via.
“He’s a participant I actually like. I like his care with the ball, his passing, and his effectivity. He will get within the field, he will get objectives, and he perhaps may have had a hat-trick.”
The 24-year-old has entered the ultimate season of his contract after a £3.25million transfer from Fir Park in 2020.
On the possibilities of a brand new deal, Rodgers stated: “It’s a door that’s open for him. he perhaps hasn’t performed as a lot as he would love, however that’s his duty.
“I feel he want to be right here however it’s a must to constantly show it.
“It was a clear slate over pre-season and he did very nicely with the ball and in opposition to the ball, which is essential. You might have to have the ability to play with out the ball and he has demonstrated that.”
County supervisor Malky Mackay was annoyed his aspect couldn’t benefit from some early probabilities, which largely fell for Simon Murray.
Mackay stated: “I assumed we began nicely and worldwide groups will rating objectives in opposition to Celtic. They simply have, Yokohama, Athletic (Bilbao). We get these probabilities within the first quarter-hour and may have scored. If it’s a world crew, Celtic are 2-0 down.
“Our form and system have been good, our self-discipline have been good, and we give away a silly penalty. Then we don’t defend a cross within the final minute of the primary half and subsequent minute we’re 3-0 down at half-time.”
County hit again via Jordan White earlier than James Brown scored in stoppage-time through Starfelt’s deflection after O’Riley had netted Celtic’s fourth.
Mackay stated: “I do know at 3-0 right here that may go on to change into six or seven. My problem for them at half-time was to be courageous and go and rating a objective and press excessive.
“Generally we have been capable of do it and typically we didn’t as a result of now we have some new gamers who aren’t fairly there with the reasons I give them however I used to be actually pleased with how courageous they have been within the second half.”
