MATCHWINNER Dedryck Boyata has given Brendan Rodgers the credit for transforming his game – and making him a Celtic regular since the turn of the year.
The Belgian centre-back had played only one game – the 1-0 win at Kilmarnock on November 18 – in the first half of the campaign.
He’s even got his own song now, which goes like this…’We didn’t sign Denayer But it doesn’t matter Cos’ we signed Boyata!’
Boyata got back into the team with Erik Sviatchenko suspended for the 3-0 Scottish Cup win over Albion Rovers and he has remained in place with the Dane on the subs’ bench.
After scoring the only goal of the encounter with St Johnstone last week, the former Manchester City prospect staged an action replay against Aberdeen at Parkhead last night.
Boyata said: “I’ve been working very hard and now it’s paying off. So, I can only be happy with what’s happening right now.”From the beginning, Brendan Rodgers has told me what he wants me to do and where he wanted me to improve.
“That’s what I’ve been doing every week. Every time I was improving on one point, he’d come over with another point until I got to where he wanted me to get – and then I got my chance to play.
“We have a very good coach who has improved us and I hope it is going to pay off until the end of the season.”
Boyata, who joined the Hoops from the Etihad giants in the summer of 2015, scored six goals in 42 outings under Ronny Deila last season.But he missed out on Euro 2016 with his country after tearing his hamstring in training before the tournament.
He added: “I’ve been through some tough moments, coming back from an injury and also missing the Euros.
“Even returning from injury you need to get the match fitness back. From there, the team is playing well and you’re trying to get a place in the team.”
It looks as though the classy back-four operator will line up again with Jozo Simunovic in the heart of the rearguard for the trip to Perth to take on St Johnstone on Sunday.
