Brendan Rodgers has done some excellent work in the summer transfer window strengthening the squad for the season ahead.
Adding seven new faces to the team, the Celtic boss managed to close the huge gaps left when Joe Hart and Matt O’Riley left the club.
The additions of Kasper Schmeichel and Arne Engels look like inspired pieces of transfer business by Celtic and have created some healthy competition in the first team.
And it seems that Celtic hero, Reo Hatate, could well be looking over his shoulder after another of Rodgers’ summer signings is already proving why he’s ‘battering down the door’ for a starting place in the Celtic matchday squad.
Paulo Bernardo ready for Reo Hatate challenge at Celtic
Paulo Bernardo returned to Celtic permanently this summer and picked up the mantle in the heart of the midfield after Matt O’Riley left for Brighton.
However, after losing his place in the team to Arne Engels, Stephen McGinn reckons the Portuguese U21 international is ready to take Reo Hatate’s place in the team.
McGinn told The Go Radio Football Show, “I expect it to be McGregor with Engels and Hatate in Germany against Dortmund.
“But this weekend, I could see it maybe been Bernardo and Engels in front of Callum McGregor.
“I think Bernardo, he is battering at the door. Even at the weekend with Celtic obviously losing in the first half, I think he was a real bright spark for Celtic.
“Outstanding [his goal vs Falkirk] real top technique. I think you just forget, sometimes because of the way he plays, he almost plays like an experienced player, you forget how young he is.
“I think even in that last international break when you see his captain for the Portugal under-21s, what a bargain as well at £3m.”
Why Paulo Bernardo will be ‘disappointed’ at Celtic
In a way, Bernardo can find himself unlucky to be in the position he is at Celtic right now because, since his arrival, he has performed well for Brendan Rodgers.
And that is why McGinn reckons the Portuguese midfielder could be feeling hard done by right now.
McGinn continued, “Even he would have been disappointed getting into the season with Matt O’Riley leaving, you think, right, this is my jersey now and he has not put a foot wrong.
“Sometimes it happens in football, you go and sign a player for £11m, he comes in and plays, he takes your jersey, but there are other jerseys available and he can only do what he’s doing and I think that’s banging the door down.”
Bernardo has proven against Slovan Bratislava and Rangers this season that he can step up in the big games for Celtic.
Even against Falkirk, Bernardo stepped up with a fantastic finish to level the scores whilst his teammates around him struggled.
Now finding himself on the Celtic bench due to the form of Arne Engels, Bernardo faces a tough ask to get in that midfield trio ahead of Hatate and the Belgian.
But all he can do right now is take the chances that are presented to him and if he continues to do that then he will give Brendan Rodgers food for though this season.
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