KRISTOFFER Ajer is taking up the challenge set by his team-mate and friend, Ryan Christie, to score more goals this season.

The Norwegian defender netted his second of the season with a composed finish against Motherwell at Fir Park on Saturday. The goal drew Celtic level just 90 seconds after the home side had opened the scoring, and put Neil Lennon’s side on their way to a 5-2 victory.

And having scored his first goal for the club in a European qualifier last season, Ajer has already doubled his tally this time around.

He has a few more to catch up with Christie, whose penalty at Fir Park took his tally to an impressive seven, but so long as he’s helping the team win, Ajer will be pleased.

“Ryan’s on at me every single day to score more goals so I’m just happy to score that goal and hopefully there’s more to come,” Ajer told Celtic TV.

“It was a great ball out from Scott Bain and then a fantastic pass through from James Forrest and it was easy to run on to. I just closed my eyes and hit it low, so luckily it went in.

“We’re really delighted to come away with such a great result. It’s always a tough ground to come to and they made it really difficult for us in the first half-an-hour. They were really pressing us and putting us on the back foot, so we’re delighted to get all three points.”

Ajer had produced an outstanding performance in Celtic’s 1-1 draw against CFR Cluj in Romania during the week in central defence, and was impressive again on Saturday, this time in a right-back role.

“I will always play where the gaffer puts me and try to do the best that I can,” he said, “and I feel that I’m performing well now, but I know that, here at Celtic, you’re only as good as your last game and we have to perform every single time.

“There’s another big game coming up on Tuesday and we have to be ready for that. We’ve got our ambitions this year and the Champions League is one of them, so we’re really eager to get going on Tuesday and hopefully get the result we need.”

Ajer: I'm delighted to rise to team-mate's goal challenge