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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

Kris Ajer suffers Celtic defensive deja vu as Norway collapse forces honest confession

Celtic star Kristoffer Ajer admits he has to improve his set-piece defending after a disappointing display for Norway.

The centre-back struggled in the 3-0 World Cup qualifiers defeat to Turkey as he headed the ball straight into the path of an unmarked Ozan Tufan who drove the ball low into the bottom corner.

A mistimed header from a corner then allowed Çaglar Soyuncu to head home the second in the rout.

The 22-year-old admits he had to improve with his country needing to step-up defensively - pinpointing the poor showing from set-pieces.

With Celtic looking weak from free-kicks and corners this term in the Premiership, it was an all-too familiar evening for the defender.

He told Norwegian outlet VG that the problems in the defeat were clear: "Yes, when you are left after a match like this, it is easy to say.

"We let in three far too simple goals, and then you can not win football matches.

"I have to be better at the set piece. We need to be better at both of the other two goals. It is too weak."

Norway boss Stale Solbakken is expected to stick by the centre-back against Montenegro tomorrow after he defending Ajer's display.

He said: “He [Ajer] had periods where it went well, and then there were situations where it did not go well.

“In situations where things are not going well, it must be the case that they cover for each other. "

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