Celtic defender Kris Ajer believes hard work has been behind the club’s recent success as they stand on the cusp on winning a third domestic treble in a row.

The 21-year-old Norwegian has been a regular in Celtic’s defence this season as the Hoops clinched their eighth league title in a row and they face Hearts in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park on May 25.

Celtic beat Craig Levein’s team 3-0 in the semi-finals of the League Cup before edging past Aberdeen 1-0 in the final and Ajer is keen to finish the season with yet another trophy. Ajer, who has been named Celtic’s Young Player of the Year, said:

“To be playing for this club and, even better, to be winning trophies for this club, is such a fantastic feeling. “To win a third treble would be outstanding, both on a team level and also a personal level.

We’ve all worked so hard over the course of the last three years and to even be in this situation at all is great for the whole squad.” Before playing Hearts in the Scottish Cup final, Celtic face the same opposition on Sunday in the league.

Meanwhile, the battle to be in the top-flight next season continues with Inverness Caledonian Thistle coming up against Dundee United in the play-offs.

The former Highland League side are 2.80 to win the first leg of the semi-final while United can be backed at 2.40 to come out on top.