Kristoffer Ajer watched the drama of last season’s William Hill Scottish Cup final from his Norwegian homeland but this term he will look to get up close and personal with the trophy.

The defender’s loan spell with Kilmarnock meant that his season had finished by the time Tom Rogic netted the last gasp winner at a sodden Hampden to deliver an unbeaten Treble in Brendan Rodgers’ inaugural season.

Since then Ajer has forced himself into Rodgers’ starting line-up and will look to be far more involved this time around should Celtic make it to Hampden again.

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“Every game at Celtic is big,” said the 19-year-old. “All the teams want to at us 100 per cent and we need to be on our game to get the result.

“The Scottish Cup is really important to us. It’s a big priority.

“I was on loan at Kilmarnock last season so I wasn’t part of the final last year.

“Our season had finished so I was back home in Norway, watching on TV.

“It was a fantastic way to finish the season and it would be nice to play a part in the Scottish Cup this season.

“We are 100 per cent focused on Morton and that’s the way we have to be.”

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Ajer would have been a doubt had the game against Dundee on Wednesday evening gone ahead after a head knock sustained at Pittodrie last Sunday. A collision with Jozo Simunovic left him with an eye that was blackened and swollen shut, however he expects to be back in action against Morton without too much ado.

“My eye is getting much better,” he said.

“It was a bit swollen after the Aberdeen game but that is me officially a centre back now with my black eye.

“That was much needed for me. It can happen and I was just unlucky.

“Was I surprised the ref didn’t stop the game? Things happen quickly in football.

“You can miss situations like that. It’s done with now.

“My eye was completely closed on Monday and I looked like a boxer.

“I would maybe have missed the game on Wednesday night but it did recover quite quickly.”