YOU may have been forgiven for thinking Carl Starfelt had just scored a crucial goal in a Champions League tie if you witnessed his giddy celebrations at Rugby Park on Sunday, not bundled home Celtic’s fourth goal of the day at the second time of asking from a couple of yards out.
The strike may not have had a material influence on the outcome of a match that Celtic had already won at a canter, but there is no doubting the importance of it for Starfelt. It was his first goal for the club on his 50th appearance, and the ideal way to mark his return to action after a frustrating, injury-hit summer.
The way his teammates celebrated with him was telling too, speaking not only to the bond and team spirit that exists between them, but to how much they value Starfelt as part of the squad too.
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou picked the goal out afterwards as his favourite of the game for precisely how important it was to his defender, despite Jota’s long-range pearler and two overhead kicks also being included in his side’s five-goal haul.
The added significance was that it continued the trend that is being established at the start of this campaign of Celtic centre-backs chipping in with goals. Stephen Welsh got the ball rolling with a header against Aberdeen on the opening day, Moritz Jenz now has two with his goals against Ross County and Kilmarnock, and Starfelt has gotten in on the action too.
“It was a very funny moment,” Starfelt said. “Like, you saw my celebration. I enjoyed it a lot even though it was a goal to make it 4-0. Maybe that wasn’t a normal 4-0 celebration but it was my first goal for the club so it means something extra to me.
“It was great to have all the players celebrate with me. We have been speaking about it a little bit in the locker room, so it was nice to see that all the other players also got excited.
“Obviously, it was nice for me to get my first minutes back after the injury and the goal was also important. “The supporters, as always, were absolutely amazing. It was a nice moment. I will remember that one.
“It’s important. It’s not a huge deal who scores, but if you can get some extra goals from set-pieces or other situations, it’s a bonus.
“Last year, we actually scored a lot from set-pieces and this year we have scored from set-pieces every game. Now we have to continue with that.”
The goal will also ensure he escapes being the butt of one or two jokes around Lennoxtown, with the Swede laughing when asked who has been teasing him about his failure to find the net up until now.
“All of them, maybe!” he said. “No, it hasn’t been so much about teasing.
“For me, it was just more of a release. I’ve had opportunities before that haven’t gone in so it was nice to see the ball go in the net this time. It wasn’t the most beautiful goal but it still counts.”
The release from Starfelt wasn’t only related to the end of his goal drought, but the end of his period of absence from the first-team picture after suffering a hamstring injury while on international duty in June.
The timing could have been worse, of course, with the 27-year-old absent from only one competitive matchday squad, but the injury meant he spent his summer training alone and unable to take part in friendlies.
“It was really nice to be back on the pitch,” he said. “Obviously it’s always tough to be out and not be able to play.
“I’ve just been working very hard to get back. I felt like I was really ready to play when I came on.
“I’ve been training now for two weeks or something like that. So I felt ready to go and get back involved. It was really nice.”
Another potential factor in his restlessness to return to the first-team fold was the fact that his place alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers at the heart of the Celtic defence - a bedrock of their success last season - has now come under threat.
As well as youngster Welsh before he himself picked up an injury, new arrival Jenz has impressed during his short time at the club.
“I think the competition pushes all the players,” he said. “It’s not only the centre-back position. I feel we have competition now in almost every position.
“It’s about the small details. You also need to show every week in training that you want to play. It pushes everyone.
“We have one game a week just now but soon it will become two games a week for a period of months. We will need a big squad.
“There is very tough competition. There are really good options in defence. Welsh, Jenz and Cameron have all done very well when they have played.
“So I don’t think that anyone knows they are going to play every game. That’s how it should be. We push each other.
“It’s good because it brings up the standard in training. We are not just 11 players who are really good. The whole squad is really good and the standard in training is really good.”
As well as the added competition for places, Starfelt is confident the greater strength in depth at Celtic this season can help them cope with the demands of Champions League football.
“For sure,” he said. “I think we coped with it pretty well last season, even though we had a lot of injuries.
“But I think this season we are even better prepared. We know that it’s going to be a tough schedule and a tough competition in the Champions League as well.
“So we will need all the players. Also, we know that every season injuries will come. But now we can deal with it in a better way.”
