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Journalist Stuart Hodge does not believe Carl Starfelt is playing at the same level that Kristoffer Ajer managed to operate at during his time at Celtic.

After five years at Celtic, Ajer opted to move to the Premier League, joining Brentford for £13.5m in July. On the same day, the Hoops signed Starfelt from Rubin Kazan.

How did Ajer fare at Celtic?

During his time in Glasgow, Ajer made 176 appearances, scoring seven goals and providing seven assists.

It was a trophy-laden period for Celtic, as Ajer won three league titles and collected six domestic trophies with the club.

The 6 foot 6 international was a mainstay in the defence in his final three campaigns, playing 82 league matches, and established himself as a key member of the side under Brendan Rodgers, and then Neil Lennon.

What has Hodge said about Ajer and Starfelt?

Hodge has claimed that Ajer was not always outstanding at Celtic, but has admitted that Starfelt has not been as good as the Norwegian centre-back in his short time at the club so far.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Hodge said: “Kristoffer Ajer comparisons; way too early for that. Not that I think Ajer was majestically brilliant, but he was a level better than Starfelt’s been so far.”

Can Starfelt get to Ajer's level?

As Hodge mentioned, it is still very early days for Starfelt, and he deserves time to settle in, having never previously played in Scotland before.

The recent signs have actually been positive for the four-cap international, with Celtic starting to find their feet under Ange Postecoglou.

After losing three of their opening six league fixtures, they have battled back well to put themselves in the mix to challenge Rangers for the title this term.

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Mohamed Elyounoussi Odsonne Edouard Kristoffer Ajer James Forrest

Starfelt is now establishing himself as a regular starter at Parkhead, and appears to be growing in confidence in Celtic's backline.

He only turned 26 in June, so his best years should still be ahead of him. With this in mind, there is no reason why he can't continue to improve and help Celtic in their bid to win major silverware after a disappointing last 12 months.

If he can manage to do this, he may be able to put himself on a par or even surpass Ajer in the next few seasons.