Warming Up For The Second Half

Kristoffer Ajer and his Celtic team-mates know how beneficial a winter break can be, and will be using the training camp to prepare for the campaign ahead

- Paul Cuddihy

KRISTOFFER Ajer enjoyed a memorable 2018, becoming a regular first-team player, winning the domestic treble and gaining full international honours with his country.

It has set a high benchmark for him, but he’s relishing the challenge of doing even better in 2019. To that end, he believes the winter training camp in Dubai will prove beneficial, not only for himself, but for the team as a whole, as they prepare for the challenges ahead across three different competitions.

Celtic will return to competitive action later this month, hosting Airdrie in a fourth round Scottish Cup tie.

That game will be quickly followed by a number of Premiership fixtures before the Hoops take on Valencia in the last 32 of the UEFA Europa League in February.

And having already played 38 competitive games by the turn of the year, Brendan Rodgers’ squad have welcomed the winter break and the opportunity to rest and recharge the batteries.