Carl Starfelt makes likely farewell Celtic appearance in opening day SPL win
Carl Starfelt was handed what Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers feels will be a farewell appearance in a 4-2 cinch Premiership opening win over Ross County. Starfelt started on the bench with Maik Nawrocki making his debut in central defence before the Swede came on for the final quarter. The centre-half’s partner, Jacynta Galabadaarachchi, left Celtic for Sporting Lisbon this summer and Starfelt looks set to follow her out of Glasgow after two years at the club. Rodgers said: “I wanted to put Carl Starfelt on because it might be his last game here. He has been a great servant to the club. There is interest in him and he would like to take up that possibility. We will resolve that as quick as we can. “The clubs are in communication so I am sure that will go through at some point early next week, if not before. “He probably felt it was the time to move on. There are certain conditions there that has made him think he will be going to one of the top leagues, and economically it’s hard for us to compete on that side, and obviously his partner is no longer here and has moved on. “But I have to say, total professional, first class and if it didn’t go through, I know I can rely on him, but I think it probably will. “We would need to get another centre-half. My idea is to get four centre-halves who are competitive.” David Turnbull netted twice in the season opener after being handed his first Premiership start in nine months. The midfielder opened the scoring from the spot and netted from Matt O’Riley’s cross after Kyogo Furuhashi had notched his first goal of the season. Rodgers said of the former Motherwell player: “He’s a talent. I remember seeing him when I was first up here and I liked his game and he maybe just hasn’t quite hit the heights of what his talent is. “I spoke to him in pre-season and told him it would be a shame if you don’t achieve what you can do at a club like this, because you have the talent, but you have to be a working talent, and you have to be able to run and be aggressive in your game. If you can do that, then your qualities will come through. “He’s a player I really like. I love his care with the ball, his passing, and his efficiency. He gets in the box, he gets goals, and he maybe could have had a hat-trick.” The 24-year-old has entered the final season of his contract after a £3.25million move from Fir Park in 2020. On the chances of a new deal, Rodgers said: “It’s a door that’s open for him. he maybe hasn’t played as much as he would like, but that’s his responsibility. “I think he would like to be here but you have to consistently prove it. “It was a clean slate over pre-season and he did very well with the ball and against the ball, which is important. You have to be able to play without the ball and he has demonstrated that.” County manager Malky Mackay was frustrated his side could not take advantage of some early chances, which mostly fell for Simon Murray. Mackay said: “I thought we started well and international teams will score goals against Celtic. They just have, Yokohama, Athletic (Bilbao). We get those chances in the first 15 minutes and should have scored. If it’s an international team, Celtic are 2-0 down. “Our shape and system were good, our discipline were good, and we give away a stupid penalty. Then we don’t defend a cross in the last minute of the first half and next minute we are 3-0 down at half-time.” County hit back through Jordan White before James Brown scored in stoppage-time via Starfelt’s deflection after O’Riley had netted Celtic’s fourth. Mackay said: “I know at 3-0 here that can go on to become six or seven. My challenge for them at half-time was to be brave and go and score a goal and press high. “Sometimes we were able to do it and sometimes we didn’t because we have some new players who aren’t quite there with the explanations I give them but I was really happy with how brave they were in the second half.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Aaron Ramsey: Riches of Saudi league no contest for ‘priceless’ Cardiff return Katie Zelem admits World Cup debut was ‘tough moment’ after Keira Walsh injury Arsenal will need ‘unheard of’ points tally to win title – Mikel Arteta
2023-08-05 23:27
NTSB chair says US near miss aviation incidents 'clear warning sign'
National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy will tell a U.S. Senate subcommittee that an increase in near
2023-11-09 04:54
Verstappen tops storm-hit final practice at Dutch Grand Prix
Max Verstappen shrugged off a storm to top an action-packed third practice at his home Dutch...
2023-08-26 19:17
IShowSpeed and his brother Jamal embark on double blind date that went viral, Internet calls it 'funny'
Here is how IShowSpeed and Jamal's 'double' blind date played out during a recent livestream
2023-09-24 21:26
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says league still needs to improve minority head coach hirings
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league still needs to improve its minority hiring among head coaches
2023-10-19 02:51
McKennie, Dest suspended by CONCACAF for games they weren't playing in
American midfielder Weston McKennie and defender Sergiño Dest were suspended by soccer’s governing body for North and Central America and the Caribbean from games they weren’t scheduled to play in, a result of their ejections from the Nations League semifinal against Mexico
2023-06-24 13:28
Everton complete loan signing of Leeds winger Jack Harrison
Everton have confirmed the signing of Jack Harrison from Leeds on a season-long loan. The 26-year-old has a minor injury so will not be involved immediately at Goodison Park.
2023-08-14 17:25
Who is Mary Bono? Cher fighting ex-husband Sonny Bono's widow's lawsuit over royalties from joint hits
Cher and Mary Bono are at loggerheads over royalties of Sonny Bono's songs recorded with the songstress
2023-07-14 20:46
Survivors of the Tulsa race massacre are appealing a judge's decision to dismiss their case for reparations
The last three known survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre -- one of the country's deadliest acts of racial violence -- will appeal a judge's recent decision to dismiss their lawsuit seeking reparations to the state Supreme Court, their attorneys announced Monday.
2023-07-11 07:16
'The View' host Ana Navarro delights fans with stunning peek into 'lush' Thanksgiving getaway
Ana Navarro brings her Thanksgiving celebrations to life on social media, offering charming snapshots of quality time with her husband
2023-11-24 10:25
Taiwan foreign minister to make Europe trip next week -sources
By Ben Blanchard and Robert Muller TAIPEI/PRAGUE (Reuters) -Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu will make a previously unannounced visit to
2023-06-09 07:15
Bank of Japan’s Real Surprise Was Dovish Inflation Forecast, Fidelity Says
For all the headlines on the Bank of Japan easing its cap on bond yields, the bigger shock
2023-07-29 03:53
You Might Like...
Kylian Mbappe clarifies stance on Real Madrid summer transfer
Illinois dioceses tolerated decades of abuse by clergy, report finds
3 Tennessee Volunteers to blame for ugly loss to Florida
Domino's Pizza inks a delivery deal with Uber Eats
Toyota Posts Record October Sales, Output on US Demand
Top US Republican McCarthy ponders Biden impeachment probe
Philadelphia Sports Mascots First to Cross Repaired I-95 Bridge
Spain celebrate World Cup win with record crowd for Switzerland romp
