CELTIC defender Dedryck Boyata has been hailed by Belgian boss Roberto Martinez.
The Hoops’ comeback star has been an ever-present in Brendan Rodgers’ side since the turn of the year.
And his impressive form has been reward by a call-up to the Belgium international squad for the forthcoming encounters against Greece and Russia.
Former Everton gaffer Martinez, who took over from Marc Wilmots in August last year, said: “I watched Dedryck in the Old Firm (sic) game last week in Scotland.
“He did well, he’s in a good place right now and he deserves a chance to show me what he can do in these two games.”
At the start of the season, Boyata had only made one appearance – the 1-0 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in November – and looked to be leaving Parkhead in the January transfer window.
However, Brendan Rodgers fielded him alongside Mikael Lustig in the 3-0 Scottish Cup win over Albion Rovers on January 22 after the winter break and he has now played 11 consecutive games.
The former Manchester City centre-half also scored the winning goals against St Johnstone and Aberdeen in back-to-back midweek Premiership tussles at Parkhead.
Celtic fans too have been mightily impressed by the 2017 version of the player and have even given him the honour of having his own song, while the likes of Tom Rogic and Stuart Armstrong have to wait for theirs.
For those who aren’t aware of this the lyrics go like this: ‘We never signed DENAYER but it doesn’t matter cos we signed BOYATA.’