Andy Walker makes Arne Engels Celtic prediction as he tells Brendan Rodgers his best midfield trio

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Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has plenty of choice in midfield and opted to change it up once again last night in his side’s victory over Dundee.

Making one alteration from the Bhoys’ victory over Motherwell, Belgium international Arne Engels came back into the starting line-up alongside Paulo Bernardo and Luke McCowan.

With Callum McGregor rested for Celtic to earn some more recovery while Reo Hatate was also offered a rare watching brief, £11 million signing Engels stole the show on a night where his side comfortably saw off Tony Docherty’s men.

Slotting home to double the hosts’ advantage from the spot, the Dendermonde-born man put himself back in with a shout of being involved from the start in Celtic’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final tie against Aberdeen on Saturday.

With a little bit of unwarranted criticism coming Engels’ way over the last few weeks, Andy Walker has offered his verdict on his importance under Brendan Rodgers and where he fits in the midfield puzzle.

Andy Walker on Arne Engels’s role in the Celtic midfield

Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show, Walker believes Engels will continue to be a big-game starter for Celtic, with their upcoming Champions League matches used as a reference point, while would have him alongside Hatate and McGregor to face Aberdeen this weekend.

He explained: “I know that Engels has been out of the team, but I think once the big games come around when Celtic get back involved in the next round of Champions League games, Engels will play from the start.

“It’s a bit like Callum McGregor; he’ll play from the start. I’m sure Engels, McGregor, if he’s fit, will play from the start at the weekend.

“Celtic want to get into the first cup final of the season. I think that’s why the likes of Hatate, Engels, Callum McGregor, I think that’s your top three midfielders, they would play.”

Arne Engels will hope to hold down a Celtic midfield place

With Saturday’s semi-final on the horizon, Engels will likely be in direct competition with Hatate and Paulo Bernardo for a place in the starting line-up amid McCowan’s previous involvement in the competition for Dundee, leaving him cup-tied.

It is hard to quantify whether the big-money signing will be given the nod to start, but after a positive performance against Dundee in the bank, you get the impression the Belgium international will be in with a good shout.

Hopefully, he can continue to flourish as the Bhoys bid to emerge victorious at Hampden to move within 90 minutes of silverware.