Celtic’s squad is jam-packed with talent and strength in depth after Brendan Rodgers’ summer transfer business this year.
The Celtic boss spent over £30m on his team bringing in the likes of Arne Engels, Auston Trusty, Luke McCowan and Adam Idah.
And it’s paying off. Celtic are unbeaten domestically and many results Rodgers has achieved have been after he’s looked to his bench for answers.
And whilst the likes of McCowan and Bernardo are great options off the Celtic bench, it has led to questions being asked about Engels who has, at times, seen some quiet games since his record move to Paradise from Augsburg this summer.
With Celtic’s fixtures coming thick and fast, a fan asked Chris Sutton to name his best midfield three and the former Hoops striker did so with a message about summer arrivals Engels and Bernardo.
Chris Sutton says Arne Engels ‘just needs time’ to settle in at Celtic
Sutton told It’s All Kicking Off, [34m 30s], “So I know where he’s going with that one. Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and Arne Engels.
“And I think they’re, Celtic fans, because Arne Engels was their record signing they probably would have expected more from him this season.
“And there are Celtic fans out there who were saying, ‘Well, they should play Bernardo in the middle of the park with Hatate and McGregor’.
But I think Engels, like any new player, needs time.
Arne Engels’ record at Celtic since big £11m move from Augsburg
Engels, at first, blew Celtic fans away as he made his introduction to Scottish football with a debut substitute performance against Rangers and a goalscoring start in the Celtic Park win over Hearts.
With 16 appearances in the green and white Hoops under his belt, here is Celtic’s record with the young Belgian in the team.
Since moving to Celtic, Engels has made his debut and scored in the Champions League and has also been capped at full international level by Belgium on four occasions.
Engels’ start at Celtic has by no means been slow, the 21-year-old has been excellent but it does seem that the price tag is following the youngster and putting unnecessary expectations by some fans on his shoulders.
