John Hughes has praised on-loan Celtic defender Leo Hjelde, who scored in the vital 3-2 win over Kilmarnock. The youngster came off the bench as Hughes’ side gained a vital three points at the bottom of the Premiership with the young Norwegian scoring his first senior goal. Speaking to The Ross-shire Journal, the Staggies manager said that Hjelde will benefit from his loan spell and as a result won’t be far away from the first team when he returns to Celtic.
“Leo came on and got his goal, he’s got massive things in front of him. He won’t be far away from Celtic’s first-team when he goes back.
“This will do him the world of good. Training and playing with men, getting battered about and coming back for more. He’s got more in the locker.
“Right from now until the end of the season, it’s about mental pressure and how you handle it. Does it affect you?
“I’m massive on the mental side of things, it’s the brain that gets your motor going. Concentrate on the process, forget the outcome.
“I say you’re on the pitch the first 45 minutes, you might touch it for about half a minute, 15 or 20 times, so what are you worried about? I don’t know if they take it on board. It’s a challenge, you’ve got to embrace it and I think they did that.”
Celtic poached Hjelde from the Norwegian side in 2019 and he is well thought of within the club, a move to Dingwall will only aid his progression and bolster his chances of becoming a first team player at Celtic. Hjelde made the bench in the 1-1 draw with Hibs at the beginning of the year.
