Arne Engels isn’t a guaranteed starter at Celtic following Paulo Bernardo’s impressive display in their 3-0 Old Firm win on Sunday and the signing of Luke McCowan.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, ex-Celtic striker Frank McAvennie admits it may take weeks for the 20-year-old central midfielder to get used to the way Brendan Rodgers wants him to play with Bernardo, 22, and McGowan, 26, currently ahead of him.
Engels joined Celtic for a club-record fee of £11million from German side Augsburg late on transfer deadline day (August 30).
McCowan and Bernardo also completed permanent moves to Celtic Park over the summer, with Bernardo having spent last season in Glasgow on loan from Portuguese giants Benfica.
Celtic midfield is stacked after Arne Engels signing
Primarily a central midfielder but also capable of playing just in front of the back four, Engels made 53 appearances for Augsburg over his two years at the club, with 34 of those being starts.
With eight first-team players fighting it out for three starting spots, Celtic have a wealth of options in the centre of the park following Matt O’Riley’s big-money move to Brighton.
It’s great isn’t it?”, McAvennie told Football Insider.
“You can tell Engels is only young, he’s played a lot of games don’t get me wrong, but it will take him a few weeks to settle into how Celtic want to play.
The boys were nipping at everyone’s feet on Sunday, every time someone got the ball they were snapping at the heels, that would have been done on the training ground.
“It will take Engles a few weeks to sort that out, and that’s just what he has to do to get into this team.
“I also felt brilliant for the new boy McGowan, you see his face when he got on, it was like he’d won the lottery.
He’s a Celtic man from a big Celtic family, it was great to see.
He may only be a bit-part player but with him and Bernardo, we have players that can come in and not upset the rhythm.
Brendan now has a team of fighters I’m really impressed with, let’s hope we can do something on the European stage and get that fortress back at Celtic Park.
