The return of Arne Engels to full fitness could be exactly what Celtic need when it comes to their midfield concerns, which were clear to see in the narrow 1-0 victory over St Mirren at Celtic Park last weekend.
Martin O’Neill named a starting lineup that included Callum McGregor, who was carrying a knock but still featured, alongside another experienced figure in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who scored the only goal of the game. Benjamin Nygren also started, and while his goal tally in his first season has been impressive, his overall contribution outside of scoring has raised questions within this Celtic side.
It is clearly the Swedish international’s goals that are keeping him in the team, especially when several forwards in the squad have struggled to reach double figures throughout the campaign.
That issue is now having an impact on the midfield, and a fix needs to be found quickly as Celtic prepare for another meeting with St Mirren this afternoon at Hampden Park in the Scottish Cup semi final. The winner will move on to face Dunfermline Athletic, managed by Neil Lennon, in the final on 23 May.
Writing in his weekly column, former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has looked at potential answers to the problem and believes the real difference maker could be Engels. The Belgian returned briefly last weekend after spending two months out, and there is hope he can now influence the closing stretch of the season.
Sutton believes the midfielder, who is also pushing to impress ahead of selection for Belgium national team, can offer something the current midfield is lacking, energy.
“Nottingham Forest wanted to shell out £25million for Arne Engels just over two months ago,” Sutton noted in his Daily Record column. “The fact bids from the City Ground were rejected puzzled a number of Celtic fans who still feel the Belgian hasn’t really justified a purchase price of less than half that figure.
“But this feels like a huge chance for Engels to silence his doubters and fully make good on the £11 million paid out for him because he has something which could prove to be priceless for Martin O’Neill in the coming five weeks. Energy.
“The midfielder has legs and running power in the engine room and that is something Celtic are struggling badly with at the moment,” Sutton stated.
“Listen, Engels isn’t the answer to every issue at my old club and it’s certainly unfair for anyone to expect him to be so. He’s a footballer, not a magician. You do also find some players become better or more popular in the eyes of supporters and even pundits when they are not actually playing.
“But looking at Celtic right now, I see them lacking something that Engels possesses in abundance and that’s athleticism. Among the numerous problems O’Neill has with this current squad, legs in the middle of the park have been lacking.
“The manager spoke about a lack of energy against St Mirren last weekend and he was bang on. At best, it was lethargic. At worst, in the second half, utterly lifeless. Celtic started well enough in the game yet after half-time I could barely believe my eyes. The Buddies were popping the ball around the home team and O’Neill’s boys couldn’t get close to them,” Sutton noted.