Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou reckons Danish midfielder Oliver Abildgaard will emerge as a big player for his side after the World Cup break.
The Danish defensive midfielder arrived at Parkhead from Rubin Kazan at the end of the transfer window but has been limited to cameos here and there, even with combative star Callum McGregor currently out injured. But without a pre-season, Postecoglou believes it wise to suggest that Abildgaard's best form will come in the second half of the season following November's hiatus for Qatar 2022.
That can also be said for fellow midfielders Aaron Mooy and Sead Haksabanovic, who also arrived later in the summer window. The Celtic boss said: "I think Oliver is taking a normal amount of time. He was training on his own for months, so we knew he would take a while For me, Oliver, Aaron (Mooy) and Sead (Haksabanovic) were signings for the back half of the year.
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"Anything we got out of them this first half of the year was going to be a bonus for us. When you miss pre-season, it is a very difficult thing to come in and hit the ground running.
"Feel good about your physical fitness and your football. What we are getting out of those guys just now is a real bonus.
"Second half of the year is when they will be able to show their true selves. Oliver is doing really well. He is doing a job for us. He is getting fitter and I am sure he will make more of a contribution."
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