[ad_pod ]
[ffc_insert title=”Check out the Big Interview with Ben Dinnery & Johnny Wilson” name=”Fixture In Focus Podcast Special” image_ link=”https://fixtureinfocus.podiant.co/e/369d9b4fb86294/” link_text=”Click here to play”]
Even though it seemed as though Dedryck Boyata was going to stay following a summer of speculation about his future, it was no surprise to see Celtic swoop to sign Leicester City new boy Filip Benkovic on a season-long loan deal.
While Boyata had attracted interest and a bid from Premier League club Fulham among others following an impressive 2018 World Cup campaign for Belgium, the Scottish Premiership holders certainly didn’t want to lose him – and especially not on the cheap even though he now has less than a year remaining on his contract.
In his absence at the beginning of the campaign, the likes of Jozo Simunovic, Kris Ajer and Jack Hendry certainly looked shaky as the Glasgow giants were knocked out of the Champions League and made a stuttering start to their domestic league campaign, and the addition of Benkovic would have been welcomed by many.
Having been an unused substitute for the Old Firm derby win against Rangers earlier this month, the 21-year-old was handed a starting berth against St Mirren and got an hour of football under his belt, before he once again started alongside Boyata for the clash against Rosenborg at Parkhead on Thursday.
The stats he produced against the Norwegian club were nothing short of incredible, with his passing accuracy coming in at just under 98% – he completed 82 of his 84 passes on the night – while he made four clearances and four interceptions.
Meanwhile, he showed his strength in the air by winning seven aerial duels, and he proved how he can help the team from an attacking point of view by successfully completing all 15 of the long balls he attempted.
It is perhaps no coincidence that Celtic have kept two clean sheets while he has been on the pitch, and after a stuttering start the Serbia international looks as though he will make the difference in the club’s bid to make it eight-in-a-row.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”298134″ player=”12034″ title=”PSG Are An Impressive Brand Not An Impressive Club”]
