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Jeremy Toljan believes player concerns over plastic pitches should be heard

The German full-back is set for this first taste of artificial pitches in Scotland when Celtic travel to Kilmarnock on Sunday.

Celtic new boy Jeremy Toljan insists Scottish football needs to listen to player complaints over plastic pitches.

The on-loan Borussia Dortmund full-back is set to get his first taste of action on Kilmarnock's artificial surface on Sunday when the Hoops head to Rugby Park.

But Toljan admits he is stunned that the kind of synthetic turfs on show in Ayrshire as well as at Hamilton and Livingston are allowed in Scotland's top-flight.

The Parkhead first-team have joined with players from the eight other Ladbrokes Premiership clubs who play their home games on grass to sign a PFA Scotland petition demanding artificial turf is outlawed in the top flight.

However, the likes of Accies vice-chairman Les Gray and Livi boss Gary Holt have already been quick to dismiss the players' grumbles by insisting plastic is here to stay.

But Toljan says those putting their bodies on the line must have their voices heard.

"I haven't heard much about the pitch. We only started focusing on the Kilmarnock game after Thursday night's Valencia match," he said.

"I've played on astro before, so it's nothing new for me.

"But in Germany we don't play on these kind of pitches and I think it's better if we play on natural grass.

"For me it's better. It's better for the players' bodies and the quality of the game is better on normal grass.

"I'm a bit surprised to see so many clubs use the astro in Scotland because I think we have the conditions to have real grass here, so we could change that easy.

"Football is a player's game so if the players says it's better to play on grass pitches then we should do it."

Toljan has settled quickly into life under Brendan Rodgers after arriving late in the transfer window on a deal until the end of the season.

He has already edged Swede Mikael Lustig out of the the Northern Irishman's line-up and was one of the few men in green and white to escape Thursday's chastening 2-0 Europa League defeat to Valencia with praise.

But while many among the Parkhead faithful are already hoping an agreement can be struck with Dortmund – where Toljan has featured just once this term – to extend his stay in Scotland, the former Hoffenheim youngster is not looking too far ahead just yet.

The 24-year-old said: "I'm here and focused on playing right now. I'm not thinking about the future.

"I like it here. I'm playing at the moment so I'm happy. It was a difficult time for me at Dortmund but now I'm playing, so I'm just looking forward.

"I cannot talk about (what happens at the end of the season) as I have three more years on my Dortmund contract.

"The atmosphere here is crazy but the atmosphere in Dortmund is also very good, so we'll see. The atmospheres are different but both very good, very supportive and loud.

"It was a disappoint result on Thursday. To lose 2-0 at home is a bad result for us.

"But it hasn't spoiled the mood for me. We cannot win every game and Valencia are a good side. I don't know much about Kilmarnock right now but hopefully we can respond positively on Sunday."

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Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke pictured on May 5, 2018
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic220085275884
2RangersRangers220078255381
3Hearts20114637963
4Kilmarnock20114438652
5St Mirren21014246-446
6Dundee20024659-1341
Relegation Group
1Hibernian21014854-642
2Aberdeen22003749-1241
3Motherwell21015053-340
4Ross County21013459-2533
5St Johnstone20022550-2531
RLivingston21012563-3821
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
RLivingston3339212259-3718


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