Anxious Albian Ajeti has vowed to get up to speed quickly to help Neil Lennon ride out the storm following their Euro exit.
The Swiss striker is frustrated at the lack of match fitness that prevented him from starting the midweek Champions League defeat to Ferencvaros.
Ajeti came off the bench for the final 12 minutes but was unable to rescue the Hoops as he did four days earlier when the substitute netted the winner against Dundee United.
The 23-year-old £5million man was a big miss with Odsonne Edouard injured and Lennon opting not to start Patryk Klimala in such a huge game.
Ryan Christie, who netted the equaliser in the 2-1 loss, was instead deployed as a makeshift frontman.
Ajeti’s last start came for West Ham United seven months ago but he is working his guts out to be ready for selection to repay Lennon’s faith in him.
He said: “The gaffer gives me confidence and has helped me during a hard time so I can pay it back by playing well and doing my best to help him.
“I like his honesty, he’s straightforward in the way he treats players.
“He’s been a player so knows what’s going on in the dressing-room and how the players are after training or games. It makes it much easier to adapt to the team and get a good relationship with the gaffer. My last start was January and I didn’t play much last season.
“So it has been a long time but ultimately I need to train hard and push myself to be ready to play 90 minutes again.
“It’s frustrating but that’s why I’m training really hard with the Celtic staff.”
And as soon as he is back firing on all cylinders, Ajeti hopes to click again with his former Basel team-mate Mohamed Elyounoussi.
He said: “I know Moi from before, the way he plays and how he likes to attack the goal. He knows my runs inside the box too and
we will have a good relationship together.
“I’m happy to have already scored my first goal and helped the team.
“I think there will be many more goals in the future when I am fitter.”
Following today’s clash against Motherwell, Ajeti will join the Switzerland squad for Nations League clashes against Ukraine and Germany.
He said: “Every call-up is nice and you feel honoured to represent your country.
“We have good players but there’s a lot of changes this time because of coronavirus.
“There will maybe be changes as players need to get tested. Every year, we have new players with their own qualities and abilities, which is good for the team.”
