CELTIC’S record £11million buy Arne Engels celebrates his 21st birthday today.
The most expensive player in Hoops history would probably admit all his birthdays came at once when he joined the champions from Bundesliga club Augsburg on transfer deadline day.
Engels was then pitched into the heat of a derby tussle two days later and played his part in Brendan Rodgers’ side’s 3-0 romp over Philippe Clement’s Ibrox outfit.
And that was topped off with his first appearance for the senior Belgium international team in their 3-1 UEFA Nations League victory over Israel two days ago.
ENGELS IN PARADISE…record signing Arne has his first look at Celtic Park.
It’s all happening for the stylish middle-of-the-park performer who arrived at Parkhead in the aftermath of Matt O’Riley’s near-£30million switch to Brighton earlier that week.
Engels took his bow in front of 60,000 joyous fans when he replaced Paulo Bernardo just after the hour mark with the champions already two goals ahead through first-half strikes from Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi.
He was caught up in the celebrations after skipper Callum McGregor clubbed in No.3. Now he is hoping to make a second outing against Hearts at the same venue on Saturday.
CAP THAT…Arne Engels in action during his Belgium debut in the 3-1 win over Israel.
Engels made the Belgian breakthrough to the top side when he replaced Yuri Tielemans in the 74th minute in the win against the Israelis which was played behind closed door in Hungary for security reasons.
The playmaker received the seal of approval from onfield leader Kevin De Bruyne who noted: “Arne made a very good substitution.”
