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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Craig Swan

Kristoffer Ajer in Celtic plea as he urges Neil Lennon to let big guns make European history

Determined Kristoffer Ajer is adamant no one wants to miss out on Celtic’s chance to make European history.

Neil Lennon ’s men go into Europa League battle against Rennes on Thursday night knowing victory could win them Group E.

Celtic have already qualified for the knockout stages with two games to spare.

With the weekend win over Livingston the first in a punishing run of 11 matches before the mid-winter shutdown, the manager has an option available to shuffle his pack and rest key men.

However, Ajer insists none of the squad want to miss out on the clash against the French.

(SNS Group)

Celtic can finish top of a group section for the first time in 18 years of Champions and Europa League competition if they win and Cluj lose to Lazio in Rome and the Norwegian said: “Everyone is fit and eager to play, especially when you are in that rhythm and everyone is enjoying playing the matches.

“Thursday is a massive game. We want to win the group and we can do it if we take the three points against Rennes.

“It’s important for us on both counts in the fact that we have ambitions to go far in Europe and if we win the group, we would meet a second placed team, but we also want to just keep winning and everyone wants to play.

“You want to be part of it and keep the rhythm. That’s the most important part.

“The staff behind the squad works so hard every single day to keep us fit. You see it in every single that we keep going until the end.”

Lennon will have to make some alterations from the weekend win with right-back Jeremie Frimpong ineligible for the contest.

Moritz Bauer could take the position with Hatem Abd Elhamed injured, while Jonny Hayes could also miss out after dislocating his shoulder during the 4-0 success over Gary Holt’s team.

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