IT is a temperature shift of cataclysmic proportions. Nadir Ciftci has switch from the sub-zero Antarctic chill of loan obscurity to the white heat that engulfed his body as he led the line for Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic in the stifling Slovenian sun on Thursday.

For the Turk, it was a searing moment that he hopes helped burn away any residue of doubt or concern over the faltering start to his career at Parkhead, leaving only the bright embers of positivity and hope flickering in its wake.

To say things haven’t been smooth for the 24-year-old since he arrived from Dundee United over a year ago. Brought in for £1.5million on a four-year contract, his career in green and white was just days old when he was hit with a six-match suspension for biting Dundee’s Jim McAlister. It was a punishment that meant those who were eager to see him progress for Celtic failed to see him in domestic action until a 2-1 defeat to Aberdeen in September, with his first goal coming a week later against Dundee.

The fact the strike came in his eighth game for Celtic – he had played in every Champions League qualifier – tells the story of a player who struggled to adapt to life at the Glasgow giants. Only three more goals followed before a loan deal was struck up at the start of the year to Eskisehirspor in his homeland.

Now back in the fold at Celtic under Rodgers, Ciftci is determined to prove that his future lies at Celtic, no matter what it takes.

“It was frustration and a bit difficult,” said the Turk of his first season at the club. “I had the suspension and I was in and out but that is in the past and I don’t want to look back. I want to look to the future.

“I just need to keep working hard and doing what the manager asks. For me, it was all about going [to Turkey] to get games and my fitness. I came back as fit as possible so I can do the things the manager asks.

He is a big manager and we all know about him and we hope it all goes good. I want to be part of his plans.”

The influence of the man who is now at the helm at Celtic Park has not escaped Ciftci’s attention. In fact, it acts as a motivator. The Brendan Brand is something that all here in Slovenia have bought into without question during their time in Maribor.

Despite the 2-2 scoreline in his first match in charge two days ago, the shift away from the passive style Ronny Deila imposed on the team was evident, and Ciftci was a shining example of that.

On for the second half, he worked tirelessly chasing defenders, harassing opposition players to win back possession and of course was in the right place at the right time to head in from five yards to start off Celtic’s comeback.

Rodgers admitted after the match that Ciftci is a player he has long been familiar with ever since he came through the ranks at Portsmouth. It is now the job of the former Pompey player to prove the young up-and-comer can redisocver his edge – and mobility – in Glasgow.

“It is always good to get a goal to your name,” said the striker. “It is pre-season and the first game and we are trying to do everything right and what the new manager asks. It was good to come back from 2-0 down.

“The attitude was very positive and getting the goals was good.

“I came with things in my head to achieve big things at Celtic. But that is football but now I am back. I am going to do all I can to be successful here and to do what the manager asks.

“They [Liverpool] missed the league one season [under Rodgers] but they were fantastic to watch. You can see what he wants to do that season.

“I believe he can do the same at Celtic and we can only get better and better. You can see it on the training pitch and I can’t wait to see even better things.”

What type of opportunity will present itself for Ciftci is still up for debate, but he knows no matter what form it comes in, he must seize it without hesitation.

Under Deila, the stunning form of Leigh Griffiths provided a barrier to the first-team as he was preferred as a lone striker. And even though Moussa Dembele has now joined the Parkhead club, Ciftci reckons there will still be a chance for him to impress as Rodgers tinkers with his tactics.

“That is football,” said Ciftci of the striking options at the club. “Last season was the same.

“It is a big club and there is always competition at these clubs. You just have to concentrate on yourself, do the right things and what the manager asks.

“Why not [play with several strikers]? That is up to the manager and whatever he wants us to do on the pitch.

“If that is one, two, three, four or five it doesn’t matter it is up to us to deliver on the pitch.”