Carl Starfelt has battled through part one of his Celtic return. But now he’s set for full training again, the Swede faces a fresh challenge in stage two of his Parkhead career.
Starfelt managed to prove he is up to the task last year as he cemented a spot in Ange Postecoglou ’s title-winning side. And he’s being backed to again overcome any hurdles standing in his way as his recovery from injury nears completion. Starfelt’s partnership with Cameron Carter-Vickers became the rock on which Postecoglou’s title triumph was built and his success story saw him get back into the Sweden side.
But that recall came at a cost when the defender suffered a muscle issue during the end- of-season Nations League fixtures, plunging him into a summer of rehabilitation. Starfelt didn’t kick a ball for the champions through their six-game pre-season schedule and is highly unlikely to be ready for Sunday’s Premiership opener against Aberdeen, with his boss stating last weekend he is only just now getting ready to rejoin the squad for full work.
While on the sidelines Postecoglou has moved to secure the services of Moritz Jenz on a season-long loan from Lorient. The German tasted action as a sub alongside Carter-Vickers last weekend in a 2-0 victory over Norwich and could partner the American against the Dons.
Starfelt may face severe competition for his starting place if Jenz were to get the nod over Stephen Welsh and immediately impress. However, the 27-year-old has already overcome the odds once. Having been bundled off a plane and plunged straight into a debut at Hearts, it was no shock he had a ropey night as Postecoglou’s Premiership bid began with a 2-1 defeat.
On top of his Gorgie torment, an own goal against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League play-off and a lost set-piece header at Ibrox as Filip Helander nodded a Rangers winner stacked up to a turbulent opening month. But Starfelt’s national team director Stefan Pettersson was in no doubt he would survive the setbacks to come good and so it proved in a revival that bodes well for this next test.
The former Ajax star said: “We knew Carl had quality. Our coaches decide but I know he has been doing well. I have seen him live at internationals and he’s always performing on a stable level.
“It can be like that in the beginning at a new club when players and people need time to adjust to a new country. But, of course, when Carl went to Scotland he was not 18 years old. He had been around and he knew the circumstances from experience of what would be needed to be a player in a new country away from Sweden.
“He was quite confident in himself that he’d know what to expect and what to do. But you still need a bit of time to get to know things. The person he is, with a good personality, it gives him a great chance to perform well and that is what has been seen so far.”
Starfelt has another key quality that makes him vital to the Postecoglou set-up. The boss goes out of his way to sign good people as much as players and Pettersson says his countryman fits the bill of being a team man. He said: “You always know what you will get from Carl and he has that very good personality.
“It’s great to have him with us in our group. Of course, it is also nice to know he’s a good footballer and a good character.”
Starfelt has the carrot to get back to his best quickly with Champions League group stage games looming. Pettersson is convinced the centre-back can successfully make the step up on to the highest club level and help offer a platform for Celtic to joust with the continent’s elite.
Starfelt would follow in the boot prints of compatriots Henrik Larsson, Johan Mjallby and Mikael Lustig in performing against Europe’s best. Pettersson knows it’s a huge challenge to have him potentially go in against stars such as Kylian Mbappe, Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema, Erling Haaland, Sadio Mane and Mo Salah.
But, at the same time, he believes it’s a big boost for the player to take the next jump on his career path. Pettersson said: “A player who is playing and performing in the Champions League, he will, of course, be noticed a lot more by more people outside of his club and his national team.
“Yes it is natural that most players at that level who are the attackers, the ones creating and scoring the goals, are who get most of the attention. That’s just the way it is. But Carl will have the job to face these type of strikers and attacking players.
“You have to remember that Carl is also playing for a club that is very well known by the people in Sweden. It is good for him to be at Celtic.”
