Mark Wilson and Gordon Dalziel shut down what they are hearing about Arne Engels at Celtic

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It’s not easy playing in the pressure cooker of Celtic and Arne Engels is finding that out right now.

The 21-year-old joined Celtic in the summer after Matt O’Riley signed for Brighton and left a big void in the middle of the park.

To nobody’s surprise, Brendan Rodgers has kept the ball rolling because the Bhoys are on for the Treble, after winning the League Cup last month at Rangers’ expense, and they also have a healthy lead at the top of the Premiership table.

On top of that, Celtic have secured progression to the knockout stages of the Champions League and are showing real improvement in Rodgers’ second spell as manager.

Engels has played his part in that, as he fights for a starting spot alongside Luke McCowan and Paulo Bernardo.

In what was the club’s biggest game of the season so far, the players got the job done by beating Young Boys and securing that play-off spot.

But Engels’ missed penalty has brought out the critics as to the start he has made in Glasgow.

Celtic told Arne Engels will get ‘even better’

Nicolas Kuhn is a prime example of why you shouldn’t judge a player too quickly because he is now one of the first names on the team sheet.

Yes, Engels has arrived for a big fee, but when there were suggestions by some fans on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard that the Belgium star isn’t cutting it and won’t be at the club next season, those claims were defended, debunked and shut down.

Mark Wilson made it clear that Engels will get ‘even better’, as he praised the ‘confidence’ levels of the midfielder, whilst Gordon Dalziel added that he is a ‘great talent’ and the ‘future’ for Celtic.

“Engels came here in the summer,” said Wilson. “I think he has played close to 30 games, but seven or eight goals in there. Probably around the same assists or just short of that. I think that’s good going.

“But again, it’s the price tag that hangs over him when people think he is going to be something extraordinary. He needs to feel his way in. You go by his numbers, he is good. He’s got the confidence, a 21-year-old kid, to step up there on the biggest of stages and take the penalty kicks. I know people will scoff at that. But you still need a level of confidence to go ahead and do that, or your manager to put you in those sorts of situations. Engels will come good for Celtic. He is playing well for Celtic. I think he will get even better.”

Dalziel added: “I agree with Mark, Engels is a boy for the future. I think he is a great talent and he will get better and better. You can see the disappointment on his face. I think when he went over to take a corner after missing the penalty kick. But he will certainly come.”

Engels’ numbers for Celtic this season

The record-breaking price tag above Engels’ head doesn’t help him, but he didn’t pay, nor ask for that money to be paid.

Plus, he is seen as a ‘potential’ and you need that development, which requires time, patience and allowing the player to make mistakes and learn from them.

Celtic have proven enough times that the process should be trusted and it won’t be too long before Engels is bossing proceedings in the middle of the park week in and week out.