BRENDAN RODGERS is convinced comeback Bhoy Dedryck Boyata will put himself back in contention for a place in Belgium’s World Cup squad,
International manager Roberto Martinez will be in the stand to watch Celtic take on Anderlecht in the Champions League encounter Brussels on Wednesday.
Following his lengthy lay-off with a knee injury sustained on July 4 against Slavia Prague, Boyata started his first competitive game last week in the 4-0 Betfred League Cup quarter-final victory against Dundee at Dens Park.
Rodgers replaced the defender before the 70-minute mark, but the former Manchester City centre-back lasted the entire 90 minutes of yesterday’s 2-0 victory at Ibrox.
The Hoops boss said: “I spoke to Roberto at a testimonial game at Swansea recently and Dedryck is very much in his plans.
“Dedryck’s history coming through with Belgium is very good.
“He made a move to Manchester City and didn’t play so much there, so that hindered him.
“But he has come out of that now and if he can keep a level of fitness and availability, then there’s no doubt he will be in the World Cup squad.
“Roberto knows how I work in terms of the game model, so there’s a hand-to-glove fit, certainly offensively, with how he likes to work.
“With Dedryck, it is about playing the games, getting fit, playing consistently.”
The CQN Podcast: A Celtic State of Mind (EP13) The Quality Street Gang Part 1
A Celtic State of Mind offers an insight into the culture of Celtic Football Club, the city of Glasgow, and fans of the reigning invincible Scottish champions.
Each episode includes interviews with ‘Celtic-minded’ figures from the world of sport, music, film, art, broadcasting, literature or politics.
This week, ‘A Celtic State of Mind’ pays tribute to The Quality Street Gang.
In the first of a two-part series, Paul John Dykes interviews Billy Murdoch, Bobby Wraith, HughMcKellar and Lou Macari to discuss one of the finest crops of youngsters ever to emerge from Celtic Park.
90,000 Celtic fans can’t be wrong…
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