Opinion: Celtic star more than deserves recent recognition

Celtic centre-back Carl Starfelt has been in good form for the Hoops this season, and this has now been recognised by the Swedish national team, as he has been called up for the World Cup play-off semi final against the Czech Republic, and potential final against Poland.

Starfelt might have had a difficult start to his Celtic career, but since the Hoops signed Cameron Carter-Vickers the duo have formed a solid defensive partnership.

In matches that Starfelt has played in this season, the Celtic defence have kept 20 clean sheets. That is in 40 appearances for the Bhoys, so in half the games that the 26-year-old has played for Celtic, the Hoops haven’t conceded a goal. 

Credit for that has to go to the entire Celtic backline, but Starfelt and Carter-Vickers in particular, who have helped the Bhoys have the best defensive record in the Scottish Premiership.

The defence has been the bedrock of the Celtic side this season, and the Hoops would not be in the position they are currently in if not for how well the Celtic back four has played this season.

It remains to be seen if Starfelt will be selected for the Swedish starting line-up for the semi-final, but it is a credit to how well he has been playing for the Bhoys that he has the chance of featuring against the Czech Republic.

All at Celtic will be hoping that Starfelt will get through the international break unscathed, as the first game after the break is the trip to Ibrox to face Rangers.

That will be a test for Carter-Vickers and Starfelt, but the Hoops should be confident that the centre-back duo and the rest of the Celtic defence will be able to stand up to any challenge that they will face over the next two months.

Whilst Starfelt looks set to be at Celtic for a while