BRENDAN RODGERS admitted he was delighted to see Dedryck Boyata return to action for the first time since injuring a knee in the pre-season goalless draw against Slavia Prague on July 4.
The Belgian international centre-back played for 67 minutes in the 4-0 Betfred League Cup quarter-final against Dundee at Dens Park last night.
Rodgers said: “We could have maybe played him against Ross County, but we felt this was going to the better game for him.
“So he got a good hour in and it was nice to see him back as he’s a big presence in the team and very dominant. I thought he came through it really well.”
Goals from Scotty Sinclair, with a penalty-kick, James Forrest (2) and Callum McGregor eased the Hoops to their 56th successive unbeaten game against Scottish opposition while booking a place in tonight’s semi-final draw.
The Irishman said: “It was a very good, very professional. We played with a nice calmness in the game.
“We had to work them around the pitch. Dundee started with good organisation and we had to be patient in the game, but once we scored the first goal, we gained that greater confidence in the game.
“We passed the ball very well and pressed it well when we had to and disrupted their game and scored very good goals.
“We are always hungry to get the ball and our counter-pressing was good. I thought we controlled the tempo and that element of it very well.
“That tires the opponent and when we break through, we have the speed and the good technique and Callum McGregoer’s goal is a great example of that.
“We get the ball back, there is a great pass forward to Scotty and Callum actually starts three or four yards behind Scotty, but his hunger and desire to get up there and finish the goal was fantastic.
“All round the team played very well and played with a good professional attitude and kept a clean sheet.”
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