This article is part of Football FanCast's Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers...

Jackie McNamara is concerned by Kristoffer Ajer's innocuous injury, which has left him as a doubt for the crucial Europa League play-off opener against AIK, as you should be backing Celtic with your Unibet bonus.

What's he said?

Speaking to Football Insider, McNamara revealed his concern about Ajer being a doubt for tonight's game at Parkhead. The Norwegian hobbled off during the Celts' after extra-time win over Dunfermline in the League Cup at the weekend.

Neil Lennon's men struggled to a 2-1 victory over the Championship side and the Celts boss will be praying the 21-year-old can play tonight in what is an already depleted Celtic side.

Hatem Abd Elhamed and Jozo Simunovic are also doubts, meaning Lennon's men are down to the bare bones at the back.

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Ajer has shown how important a player he is for the Celts, a sentiment that McNamara agrees with. The former Dundee United manager told Football Insider: "Yeah, it looked a bit innocuous the way he fell and then puts his arm in his shirt as he walked across. Obviously a big player, important for Neil to have him playing, definitely."

A massive blow

If Elhamed is out, a fit Ajer would most likely play at right-back, or at least on the right side of Lennon's 3-5-1-1 system, which he has deployed when depleted at the back this campaign.

Despite being far from his ideal position, he's done well on the right and has even contributed to the attacking side of things too - probably not what is expected of a centre-back being shoehorned onto the flank. Not having either player would leave a huge question mark over that right side.

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If the Israeli right-back can make it, then Ajer will likely go into the middle. Even if Simunovic can also get past his own fitness concerns, Ajer has to be present at the heart of the Celtic defence. Lennon has confirmed Christopher Jullien will play, so it would make sense for him to deputise alongside the more vocal Ajer, rather than the Croat, who has doubts surrounding his future in Glasgow.

McNamara is absolutely right to be concerned by his injury, Lennon simply needs him in the side, no matter where he plays. Ajer has become a defensive leader of the side with Kieran Tierney leaving, so his presence in the backline has become imperative this season.

With the AIK tie being so vital to a club who are in something of a crisis at the moment, getting all your best players on the park is a must for Celtic, and Ajer is most certainly one who needs to be in the side tonight.

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