FOOTBALL FOCUS

Moi Elyounoussi and his Celtic team-mates are determined to get back to winning ways and go on a run of good form

- TONY CONNELLY

THE international break was a disappointing one for Mohamed Elyounoussi after Norway’s games were abruptly cancelled. However, the midfielder is well-versed in channelling negativity into motivation and is excited to be embarking on a busy run of fixtures with Celtic.

A positive COVID test from Elyounoussi’s international team-mate, Omar Elabdellaoui, ahead of Norway’s Nations League game away to Romania last Sunday (November 15) derailed the Scandinavians’ fixture schedule.

That denied Elyounoussi and Kristoffer Ajer the chance of playing time while the majority of their Celtic team-mates were in action. However, both players were able to resume training for their club and were both in the side which drew 2-2 with Hibernian at Easter Road on Saturday.

Elyounoussi admitted it was a frustrating situation to go through, but the 26-year-old remains upbeat in his assertion that Norway’s misfortune could be Celtic’s gain.

“The international break didn’t come at a good time for us,” said Elyounoussi in an exclusive interview with the Celtic View. “It’s important to keep the momentum going as soon as you have a good win and it would have been nice to do that immediately after the Motherwell game. For me personally, the international break didn’t have any game, which I would have enjoyed, but it hasn’t impacted on me negatively.

“The only positive to take from it is I’m not injured and will be fresh for the busy run of games coming up with Celtic. It ended up being three or four days without proper team training, but Kris Ajer and I did a lot of gym work at the hotel to keep the fitness up.