[Sport] Celtic interim manager John Kennedy has "no doubt" Kristoffer Ajer will attract interest this summer after the Norway defender's latest impressive display in the Scottish Premiership.

[#Hassan.]

 

Odsonne Edouard's deflected early strike gave Celtic a winning start to life after Neil Lennon as they edged out Aberdeen at home.

Ajer - previously linked with AC Milan and under contract until 2022 - helped repel intense second-half pressure.

"Kris was terrific," said Kennedy.

"He's a great character and a leader, that was a big performance from him today. Even when he was tired at the end, he was throwing himself in front of things or getting his head on balls.

"Kris isn't overly thinking about his future. He's still very young at 22 and an international player. With his profile of speed, size, technique and ability - there's going to be interest in him."

Reaction & as it happened
Aberdeen's Ash Taylor had an effort cleared off the line as Aberdeen's much improved performance after the break came to nothing, and Celtic's win keeps leaders Rangers seven points from the title.

The defending champions move within 15 points of the runaway leaders, while Aberdeen remain four behind third-place Hibernian.

Lennon's departure - which had looked inevitable for months - came in the wake of last weekend's defeat by Ross County and left assistant Kennedy at the helm for the remainder of a dismal Celtic campaign.

With the club's 10-in-a-row title hopes all but dashed, restoring some pride and belief were the stand-in's first objectives. The opening goal brought confidence flooding back, but only after the hosts were almost caught cold as Taylor's aerial prowess threatened an opener.

Niall McGinn twice planted the ball on to the big centre-back's forehead in quick succession, but the crossbar and a brilliant flying tip-over from Scott Bain saved Celtic.

Aberdeen's promising start was soon punctured as Celtic broke the deadlock with their first meaningful attack. Ryan Christie found Edouard on the edge of the area and the visitors' lax marking was punished as the French striker's shot took a ricochet off Tommie Hoban to wrongfoot goalkeeper Joe Lewis.

Ross McCrorie had a 20-yard drive easily dealt with by Bain as Aberdeen tried to respond, but they would spend the rest of the opening 45 minutes hemmed into their own half.

Celtic had hit their stride and David Turnbull danced into the box to force a near-post save from Lewis before Patryk Klimala - on his first league start since the derby defeat by Ranger in October - failed to convert a delicious first-time cross from Jonjoe Kenny.

Christie curled inches wide of the top corner as Celtic kept up the verve and tempo that was too often lacking under Lennon.

Flaws remained, though, and Aberdeen came back strongly after the break as the hosts again failed to deliver a complete performance. Set-pieces have so often been Celtic's downfall this season and Taylor rose highest to meet a McGinn corner with a header that Klimala had to clear off the line.

Andrew Considine had an effort scrambled clear and McGinn was foiled by a timely Stephen Welsh block as the visitors built momentum but struggled for clear-cut openings.

Celtic should have made the margin of victory more comfortable in the final minutes, with Callum McGregor bending a shot wide and Edouard unable to convert after a swift counter-attack.