Arne Engels introduced himself to the Celtic crowd on Saturday by scoring his first goal for the club following the 2-0 win over Hearts.
Before the international break, Celtic outclassed Rangers, with Engels coming off the bench to make his debut and Paulo Bernardo impressing in the middle of the park.
But Brendan Rodgers rotated his midfield against Hearts by bringing in his new summer signing and putting his loan star from the previous campaign on the bench.
Celtic host Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League on Wednesday night, with many talking about what changes Rodgers might make and if he changes his midfield again.
Stephen McGinn is in no doubt that Engels will start and how you don’t pay such a huge fee for a player and leave him out of your first Champions League game.
Celtic‘s £11 million man was impressive against Hearts, stepping up for the penalty, and then putting it away despite the noise from the likes of Lawrence Shankland behind him.
Celtic-mad McGinn expressed his surprise at Engels and how he is ‘more than I expected him to be’, as he told Go Radio.
McGinn added how ‘tidy’ the 21-year-old looked, how he can ‘put the foot in’ and that he looks like a ‘real top player’.
But amid talk of whether Bernardo should come into the XI for Celtic’s Champions League opener, McGinn was clear that the new kid on the block stays in.
Arne Engels to start for Celtic v Slovan Bratislava
“I think Engels plays,” said McGinn. “First Champions League night, Celtic Park, I think it’s a huge game for the football club, in terms of everyone’s hopes of progressing.
“I don’t think you buy a player for that amount of money and leave him out of your first Champions League game. I thought he was probably Celtic’s best player on Saturday. I was really impressed with him.
“He was more than I expected him to be. He was tidy. He looks like he can put the foot in. He moves well. He is a really good footballer. He scored a penalty and took it really well. Even with his left-footed shot off the post, he looks like a real top player. Sometimes spending £10-11 million doesn’t guarantee you a player, but it looks like Celtic have done really good business with Engels.”
Celtic need to announce themselves
A lot was said about Celtic’s favourable Champions League draw, but the team have to start with three points in their opening game.
For far too long, the Bhoys haven’t delivered what is expected in Europe’s elite competition, but this change in format and this season’s draw has got people off their seats.
READ MORE: Celtic Predicted XI vs Slovan Bratislava as Brendan Rodgers makes big midfield call
You suspect this is also huge for Rodgers because he gets mixed reviews outside of Scotland and that will soon change if he charges with Celtic in the Champions League.
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