ARNE ENGELS‘ return to fitness and a first-team place could prove to be timely for Celtic as they prepare for a vitally important run-in to a rocky campaign.
Despite some erratic form on the pitch, upheavals in the dug-out, changes in the boardroom and unrest in the stands, the Hoops could still end the season with a league and Cup double.
With five games to go, the champions are three points behind leaders Hearts as they pursue their fifth successive title.
And Martin O’Neill’s side have the opportunity to seal a place in the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden on Saturday May 23 when they face Premier Sports League Cup conquerors St Mirren in the last four tomorrow afternoon.
ON TOP…Arne Engels tussles with the toppling Mo Diomande during Celtic’s scoreless stalemate at Ibrox in August.
The Hoops hardly sparkled as they overcame the Paisley club 1-0 with an Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain strike in the league encounter at Parkhead last weekend.
Engels joined the action just after the hour mark when he replaced a toiling Benjamin Nygren – and immediately gave the place a lift.
Former Celtic goal hero Chris Sutton was impressed and, analyzing the playmaker’s qualities, said: “Nottingham Forest wanted to shell out £25million for Arne Engels just over two months ago.
“The fact bids were rejected puzzled a number of Celtic fans who still feel the Belgian hasn’t really justified a purchase price of less than half that figure.
“But this feels like a huge chance for Engels to silence his doubters and fully make good on the £11million paid out for him because he has something which could prove to be priceless for Martin O’Neill in the coming five weeks. Energy.
“The midfielder has legs and running power in the engine room and that is something Celtic are struggling badly with at the moment.
THUMBS UP…a delighted Arne Engels after helping Celtic to a victory.
“Listen, Engels isn’t the answer to every issue at my old club and it’s certainly unfair for anyone to expect him to be so. He’s a footballer, not a magician.
“You do also find some players become better or more popular in the eyes of supporters and even pundits when they are not actually playing.
“But looking at Celtic right now, I see them lacking something that Engels possesses in abundance and that’s athleticism.”
Sutton, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “Among the numerous problems O’Neill has with this current squad, legs in the middle of the park have been lacking.
“The manager spoke about a lack of energy against St Mirren and he was bang on. At best, it was lethargic. At worst, in the second-half, utterly lifeless. Celtic started well enough yet after half-time I could barely believe my eyes.
“The Buddies were popping the ball around the home team and O’Neill’s boys couldn’t get close to them.
“There just didn’t seem any fizz around Celtic and it’s not going to get easier against the Paisley side in the vast expanse of Hampden tomorrow.
CRESTFALLEN…Arne Engels in tears after Celtic’s 3-1 Premier Sports League Cup Final loss to St Mirren at Hampden in December.
“Engels made his comeback as a sub seven days ago after a couple of months out and there is now a huge opportunity for him to make a real impact at a critical time in the campaign for the Hoops.”
The one-time England international frontman added: “The Belgian might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but he has the fitness and energy to get around people and make runs, as well as having ability on the ball.
“Engels is a strong runner and, playing in a team which is struggling to score goals from open play, his dead-ball delivery can be a big asset.
“O’Neill spoke recently about the fact the Belgian needs to add some more goals to his game to really go to the next level.
“All the motivations are there for him to step back into that starting line-up and show himself as worthy of being the club’s record buy.”
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