Kris Ajer urged to score more goals

Celtic defender Kris Ajer has revealed he has been urged to get more goals this season by team-mate Ryan Christie.

The towering Norwegian scored his side’s equaliser in their 5-2 win over Motherwell at Fir Park on Saturday afternoon. It was his second of the season after notching a headed goal against Nomme Kalju in the Champions League qualifiers, and a first ever in the Scottish Premiership.

Reflecting on his strike, Ajer admitted midfielder Christie, who scored a late penalty to add to a hat-trick on the opening weekend against St Johnstone, has been pestering him to chip in with more goals. “It was a great ball from [Scott] Bain and a fantastic pass from Jamesy [Forrest] that was easy to run on to,” Ajer told Celtic TV.

“I just closed my eyes and hit it low, luckily it went in. “It’s nice, Ryan Christie is on me every day to score more goals, so I’m just happy to score that goal and hopefully more to come.”

Leigh Griffiths, Odsonne Edouard and James Forrest were also on target for Neil Lennon’s side, who have already scored a dozen goals in two league games this season. The Hoops will be hoping for more of the same this midweek when they entertain Romanian champions Cluj in their Champions League qualifier second leg at Parkhead.

Celtic picked up a useful 1-1 draw in the first game and will be eyeing another positive result that would take them to within 180 minutes of the lucrative Champions League group stages. The Hoops are 1.53 to win the second leg, with Cluj 6.50. The draw is priced at 4.00.