Si Ferry makes accusation against Celtic’s Arne Engels in honest assessment

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Former Celtic youngster Si Ferry has laid into midfielder Arne Engels.

The Belgian midfielder is Celtic’s record signing having joined from Bundesliga side Augsburg last year for a fee of £11m.

Engels showed flashes of quality last season, including a good spell between December and February, but most fans feel he did not live up to his price tag.

And things have arguably gotten worse for him at the start of this season with Benjamin Nygren stealing his spot in the starting XI.

• READ MORE: Brendan Rodgers update on Celtic future with ‘conversations taking place’

Ferry blasts Engels for lacking Celtic ‘personality’

Ferry has now hit Engels when he is down by claiming the midfielder does not have what it takes to play for Celtic regularly.

The Open Goal podcast host was honest in his assessment that Engels lacks personality and it’s why he is struggling to produce for the Hoops.

Ferry said: “Engels has not got it. I never fancied him last year when everyone thought he was brilliant.

“He’s not got it. He’s not a Celtic player. He doesn’t have the personality to play for Celtic.”

Why Benjamin Nygren is ahead of Engels in pecking order

Speaking after the 0-0 draw with Hibs which Engels started, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers explained why Nygren is his preferred midfielder at the moment.

He said that Nygren is a greater goal threat and it’s something Celtic lacked in midfield last season bar from captain Callum McGregor.

Rodgers did say, however, that Engels is ‘very important’ to Celtic. He said: “Arne’s role in the squad is very, very important. I don’t think there are too many players, if any, that will be to cement their place in the team.

“But, of course, it’s one where Benji (Nygren) has played in front of him this season, more because of his goal threat. We lost goals out of our team. A lot of goals.

“And Arne hasn’t scored as many goals as, say, what Nygren has done in his career. He is a player who affects, creates goals and scores goals.

“So, for Arne, he just needs to continue what he is doing and provide the goal threat. He works hard. He gives us other qualities that we need within our squad.”