FILIP BENKOVIC’S club future next season may be in doubt, but the classy central defender is poised to make his debut for the Croatian international side.
Celtic’s on-loan centre-half is due to rejoin parent club Leicester City when his deal expires after Saturday’s Scottish Cup Final against Hearts at Hampden.
However, Brendan Rodgers, who quit the champions to take charge of the Midlands outfit in February, has hinted he would be open to the 21-year-old defender having a second temporary season-long transfer with his former club.
Benkovic, though, did enough in his stint at at the Hoops to win a call-up for his nation’s Europa 2020 qualifier against Ryan Giggs’ Wales on June 8 and the friendly against Tunisia three days later.
The ball-playing back-four operator has made one appearances for the Under-21 side and is now ready to step up to the top team.
Benkovic cost ex-Foxes boss Claude Puel £17million when he switched from Dinamo Zagreb in the summer before his move to Parkhead.
He made 27 appearances and scored two goals – against Hearts in the 5-0 win in November and Motherwell in the 3-0 success the following month.
