Thursday 29 December 2016 13:16, UK
Celtic youngster Kristoffer Ajer has hinted he may make a loan move to a Sky Bet Championship club in January.
The 18-year-old was signed by former Celtic manager Ronny Deila from IK Start on a pre-contract deal in February, but has been unable to break into the first-team so far under current boss Brendan Rodgers.
Ajer, who signed a four-year deal with the Hoops, arrived at Celtic Park as a midfielder but Rodgers has converted the Norweigian into a central defender.
He is behind Erik Sviatchenko, Jozo Simunovic, Kolo Toure and Eoghan O'Connell in the pecking order in his new role but is determined to rise to the challenge and expects a January switch in order to gain first-team experience.
Ajer said: "My aim is to become the best defender in Norway and I feel like I have taken a huge step in the last six months.
"I come into training an hour before everyone else to improve my physical strength and then I train with the first team.
"I have put on 7kg since I got here and I feel the training environment at Celtic is so important.
"The fact that I have converted to a defender means it will take more time for me to establish myself.
"Brendan Rodgers has told me he strongly believes in me for that position. But I need to play at the highest possible level and, presumably I'll be loaned out in January.
"It will probably be the second-tier in English football, but the main thing is to get playing time."
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