It now seems like an age ago that Brendan Rodgers was in the Celtic dugout.
Several months ago, Celtic headed to Tynecastle to face title-chasers Hearts, who had their tails up, and they were hoping to cause an upset.
They did. It proved to be Rodgers’ final game for Celtic, and now Martin O’Neill heads to the same venue on Sunday afternoon hoping to close the six-point gap on Derek McInnes’ side.
One man who started in the middle of the park back in October was Arne Engels, and James McFadden shared what has changed in the midfielder’s game.
Can Celtic afford to sell Arne Engels?
James McFadden on Arne Engels after Brendan Rodgers’ exit at Celtic
The issue for Engels is the fact that he is Celtic’s club-record transfer at £11 million, and that’s something critics usually beat him with when he isn’t playing well.
Rodgers’ exit in October wasn’t ideal, but McFadden told Open Goal that it has ‘helped’ Engels, and he has proven to be ‘really good’ since then.
“I think Brendan leaving has helped him,” said McFadden. “When Martin first took care of that first spell, I thought Engels looked really good.
“He scored goals. He scored a lot of penalties. But he is now making runs into the box. Technically. He has a good technique. His range of passing is good.
“When he first came in. You are looking at him going, he was brought in because he was meant to have energy and getting up and down.
“He looked more like a guy who wanted to sit with the game in front of him. Dictate the play, which I am not sure suited him.”
Do you agree with Callum’s starting XI for the Hearts game?
What Martin O’Neill is telling Engels
O’Neill is old school and pretty simple with his ways. The Wilfried Nancy era proved just how complicated things had become.
But McFadden feels Engels is now being told, not just to start play from deep, but also ‘get in the box and score goals.’
“I think Martin O’Neill’s first spell,” said McFadden. “Engels scored since he came back. You could see, it wasn’t just coming at the ball, get turned and join in.
“It was ‘get in the box. Get in the box and get goals.’ I think you will see him score a few more goals from now until the end of the season, and different types of goals.”
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