CHRISTOPHER Jullien has hit back at criticism of Kristoffer Ajer and tipped his Celtic central defensive partner to silence his detractors by proving he is a top class international defender in the second half of the season.

Ajer was savaged by supporters after allowing Rangers centre half Nikola Katic to get on the end of a Borna Barisic corner and score what proved to be the winning goal in the Ladbrokes Premiership game at Parkhead last month.

However, Jullien feels the condemnation of the Norwegian which has followed the defeat has been completely unjustified given how well he performed in the first six months of the 2019/20 campaign.

And the Frenchman has no doubts the 21-year-old will respond in a positive manner and underline what an exceptional talent he is in the coming months by once again excelling in both the Premiership and Europa League.

“I think it’s a little bit hard on him for sure,” he said. “Kris has been at Celtic for a long time and done a lot of really good stuff. He is really young and he still has a really bright future. If some people doubt him he is just going to show them that he is a really good player. He is not an international player for nothing.

“I just know that he is going to bounce back, show to everyone his quality. He can do everything – he is really fast, he is good with the ball. He just missed one aerial fight. Just one. People start to talk about that, but this is how it is at Celtic. The expectation, it’s normal. He is going to show everyone. That’s it.’

Jullien, a £7 million capture from Toulouse in the summer, has struck up a good understanding with Ajer since arriving in Glasgow and feels his team mate has been important in helping him to settle.

“He is one of the players who makes me feel really good on the field,” he said. “Even though he is younger than me he speaks really well on the field and that’s why I needed when I arrived. I’m just happy to have him on my side. If some people doubt on him I have no doubt he will show he is a really good player.’

“If he makes everyone think that he is not 21 then that is a good thing. He has shown he is a really important player for the club at a young age, on the field his age has no importance.”