Celtic defender Erik Sviatchenko speaks of frustration at being 'third choice' centre half

Celtic defender Erik Sviatchenko admits he has been left frustrated at his stop-start 2017 with the champions.

The Danish defender was back in the starting XI for last night’s draw with Partick Thistle after missing out on the title-clinching thumping of Hearts on Sunday.

Sviatchenko has started just seven of Celtic ‘s 13 matches since the Hogmanay win over Rangers.

And he says the situation is “tiresome” with Dedryck Boyata and Jozo Simunovic knocking him down to third choice centre half at Parkhead.

Sviatchenko, speaking to Danish news outlet BT : “Since January, I have not figured as much as I’d hoped. It is the first time in my career I have sat on the bench and not been selected, although in fact I’m fit.

“It is not ideal and it is a situation I must deal with. If Brendan Rodgers has decided that I am third choice, I will do everything to prove that I must be one of the two in the middle.

“It is obviously a tiresome situation, especially when I’ve had such a big role until July and then not be as dominant as I’d expected. Right now it’s frustrating.”