Albian Ajeti and Cedric Itten verdict as Swiss legend Stephane Henchoz runs rule over Celtic and Rangers pair

They both started out as young boys at Swiss club
 FC Basel.

And after going their separate ways, Cedric Itten and Albian Ajeti will be back together again in Glasgow next Saturday.

But in the context of an Old Firm game at Parkhead they couldn’t be further apart.

Itten and Ajeti will be on opposite sides when Rangers go across the city to face Celtic in the first derby clash of the season.

Whether it’s starting or coming off the bench for Steven Gerrard and Neil Lennon’s sides, the big summer buys could have a major say in the outcome.

Itten and Ajeti have already got off the mark for their new clubs in the
 Premiership but an Old Firm goal could propel their careers at Ibrox or Celtic Park.

Stephane Henchoz knows both men from their time in the Swiss Super League.

(Image: Gary M. Prior/Getty Images)

The ex-Liverpool centre-back is the current gaffer of Neuchatel Xamax so is well aware of the front pair’s qualities. He expects Itten and Ajeti to hit
 the goal trail in Glasgow for their respective clubs.

But he believes Hoops hitman Ajeti is probably
 better prepared to deal with the
 pressure and intensity of being an Old Firm player.

Henchoz has watched Itten from his time in the youth ranks at Basel and says, if he develops, he can become a complete striker for Rangers.

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He told MailSport: “Cedric was always a good young player when he was coming through the academy.

“He actually played alongside Ajeti there, they were together with the youth side.

“Itten had to go to St Gallen to play his football and two years ago he had a very bad leg injury.

“He’s had to work hard to get back and last season he was very good. He scored a lot of goals at St Gallen last term.

“Cedric is an excellent
 finisher. I wouldn’t say he’s the finished product yet – but he’s got real potential. He’s a player Steven can work with at Rangers to fulfil that.

“He’s quite quick over the first five yards but still has to work on his overall speed. Any striker needs that now. But in the box, Cedric’s a top finisher
 and that’s probably his
 biggest quality.

(Image: Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

“When he gets the ball in there, he WILL score goals. Is he a target man? He can certainly play that role. But technically he’s good, he can bring people into play.

“But when he isn’t facing the game, he can play that type of game as well.

“I’d say Cedric is quite complete as a modern-day striker. Of course, he can still improve but he doesn’t just have one side to his game.

“Scottish football is always quick and physical. So as a striker you always need a bit of time to adapt.

“Cedric might need some more time to show his best at Rangers. When he does, I’m sure he’ll score goals there.

“But it’s important that the fans give him time. They have to realise that the pressure on him playing for
Rangers is just not the same – not at all – from playing for a small club in Switzerland.

“It’s different in Scotland especially when you’re playing for the Old Firm.”

Ajeti’s goals for Basel in Switzerland earned him a dream move to London with Premier League side West
Ham United.

But after a year with the Hammers, he’d failed to make any sort of impact in England and Lennon snapped him for £5million in August.

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The 23-year-old has hit five goals in nine games already for Celtic – and Henchoz expects that run to continue.

He believes Ajeti can relaunch his career at Parkhead and said: “Ajeti is a strong, powerful striker. And he’s also a goalscorer. I would say he’s a proper, penalty-box striker.

“He played for Basel in Switzerland who are one of the two big clubs – so he’s maybe more used to dealing with that than Itten.

“He’s played under pressure before. At Basel, it’s similar to Rangers and Celtic in that there is a demand to win the league every year.

(Image: Steve Welsh/Pool via Getty Images)

“In that aspect, he’s probably a bit further in his development than Itten. He’s also had a full
 season at West Ham in the Premier League.

“So he’s had time to adapt to British football more and get to know the league, even though it’s now the Scottish Premiership.

“He didn’t play that much for West Ham but at least he’s experienced it.

“I don’t think Swiss people were surprised that he didn’t play too many games in England.

“When you go from the Swiss League straight to the Premier League it’s always going to be difficult.

“That was always going to be a big challenge and maybe too big a jump for Ajeti at that time.

“Scoring for Basel in Switzerland is one thing. Playing in the Premier League against the top English sides is very different. That’s why going to Celtic is a good move for him. I think it can kick-start his career.

“When you spend a season not
playing, you need game time. He wouldn’t have got it at West Ham or anywhere else in the Premier League.

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“So he had to go either to the English Championship or a club like Celtic. So it’s a good move for him because he can get back to scoring goals and regain confidence.

“He has had a good start and scored a few goals already. It’s too early to know probably if he’ll be that guy who scores 25 goals in a season. But can he do it? I think he can, he’s got what it takes.”

Henchoz can’t wait to see both
 players go head to head for the Old Firm on Saturday – but he can’t
 predict a winner.

He said: “It will be interesting for us in Switzerland to see if Itten and Ajeti are both on the pitch against each other.

“Who is going to win the title in Scotland this season? It’s a very hard question to answer. The race will be so tight, it’s 50/50.”