Sutton Hits the Nail on the Head With Latest Arne Engels Comments

Former Celtic striker turned pundit Chris Sutton has told supporters that, like any young player, Arne Engels will take time to fully get up and running in green and white.

The central midfielder joined the Hoops for a club record £11m on summer transfer deadline day, and some fans have perhaps expected more of him so far.

Despite this, he has contributed four goals in as many appearances in the UEFA Champions League. One cannot refute his impact at the top level, but understandably, some supporters get annoyed when the Belgian goes astray in domestic Games.

Indeed, Engels hasn’t been on it in the Bhoys’ last two matches against Hearts and Kilmarnock. He was off it on the plastic in Ayrshire and couldn’t really get into the Game against the Jambos on Saturday.

Some fans are looking for more from the 21-year-old, yet Sutton hit the nail on the head with his latest comments on Engels.

Speaking on the ‘It’s All Kicking Off’ podcast (via RecordSport), he was asked who he thinks Celtic’s best midfield trio is: “Oh good question, I know where he is going with that one,” replied Sutton.

“Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and Arne Engels.

“I think there are Celtic fans because Engels was their record signing, they would probably have expected more from him this season and there are Celtic fans out there saying they should play [Paulo] Bernardo in the middle of the park with Hatate and McGregor.

“But I think Engels, like any new player, needs time.”

Given his recent impactful cameos, there is certainly a worthy case to play Paulo Bernardo tomorrow evening. One assumes, however, that Rodgers will go with Engels.

He was his marquee signing, and although he’s been somewhat off the boil domestically lately, he has proved over the course of the season that he is more than adept at the European level.

A goal or assist every 80 minutes in the Champions League this campaign is a prodigious record, and he will look to maintain it tomorrow evening against his boyhood team.