Great to see Gustaf grab the winner, now his Celtic career can get underway

It came as a surprise to see Gustaf Lagerbielke on the park never mind see him score the winner last night. The Swedish centre back – who was voted as the best defender in Swedish football last season – hasn’t had the best of times since signing for the club and his future has been regularly called into question.

It looks even more ominous for the Swede considering Brendan Rodgers named Stephen Welsh in the starting line up last night, despite it being the Scottish centre backs first game since August after a long injury lay off. Welsh alongside Man of the Match Scales had a very decent game proving the manager’s judgement as being spot on.

Lagerbielke also looked decent when he came on and was in the right place at the right time to head home the winner from that sensational Matt O’Riley cross.  He could hardly miss but knowing Celtic’s luck in this competition few would have been surprised if he had!

But could this goal be a springboard for the super Swede to make his name in the first team? CCV of course will be back and the ever improving Liam Scales will be there beside him, but with so many games coming up and CCV having a few niggles, could Gustaf be in line for a rare start?

Along with Maik Nawrocki (who wasn’t registered for the Champions League), Gustaf deserves a chance. It’s not as if he’s a ‘project’ player. He was voted player of the season in the Swedish Allsvenskan last year and he’s also a Swedish international performer. Stephen Welsh too will be looking to push on and remember he signed a long term contract extension before picking up that ankle injury on the same day.

Lagerbielke has undoubted talent, and let’s hope last night’s goal gives him that added belief that he can make the grade here. I for one hope he is successful in his quest to do so.