BRENDAN Rodgers last night insisted Dedryck Boyata still has a future under him at Celtic after handing the Belgian centre half only his second start of the season.
Boyata helped the Parkhead club keep a clean sheet in their 3-0 win over part-time Albion Rovers in a William Hill Scottish Cup fourth round tie at the Excelsior Stadium.
The 26-year-old has only been involved in one other first team game under Rodgers - a 1-0 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park back in November - in the 2016/17 campaign.
With Jozo Simunovic, Erik Sviatchenko and Kolo Toure all at Celtic he had been widely expected to move either on loan or in a permanent deal during the January transfer window.
However, Rodgers revealed he had been an admirer of the Belgian internationalist since seeing him perform well against Didier Drogba in a Manchester City match against Chelsea.
"Dedryck looked very promising," he said. "He looked like the young player I saw at City. I saw him play against Drogba when he was a really young player and he was fantastic.
"He was strong, quick, aggressive. He hasn’t had a chance to play because others have been in front of him, but in the last few weeks in training he has been great.
"He was really focused and there were no mistakes. Play simple, defend, get on the front foot, win your headers and you can be a player. I thought he was really good.
Rodgers added: "He can still be a player for me. He has all the attributes that I love because he’s big, has got a good spring, he can defend, he’s actually a good defender and he can play.
"The problem in the past has been that he’s made mistakes. You can’t make mistakes and lose concentration. But today he was very focused and very concentrated.
"Now this might be his moment. He’s got the shirt, he played well and now he might stay in the team."
Asked if there had been any interest in a player Celtic paid £1.5 million for two years ago, Rodgers replied: "Not that I’m aware of.
"He’s a great professional and I think that’s important. He hasn’t been in the team but he can come into the team and play to that level because of his professionalism."
Asked if he would consider letting Boyata leave, Rodgers added: "Not at this moment. There’s a squad of 20 odd players now that are working really well.
"I want to make sure we’re strong going into this second part of the season with everyone fighting for their position in the team. That’s the position we are in."
Rodgers admitted he would like to add to his squad before the January transfer window closes next week as it emerged a bid of £1 million for teenage Nigerian striker Henry Onyekuru had been turned down by Belgian First Division club KAS Eupen.
"Nothing to add on it," he said. "We’ve obviously got another week or so. I want to add to the squad to keep the freshness and the quality. But only if it’s the right time and players available and the right level of affordability. If not we’ll just have to wait until the summer."
It has been suggested that Celtic could land Onyekuru if they offer £3 million. Asked if they had upped their bid, Rodgers said: "I wouldn’t comment even if we had."
The Irishman predicted Celtic's fifth round match with Inverness Caledonian Thistle, the only Scottish club to draw with them this season, at Parkhead next month would be difficult.
“It is a home draw," he said. "It doesn’t matter who you play you always want a home draw. It will be a tough game but we will go into it looking to win it. If we want to win it [Scottish Cup] then we need to get through each game. I am sure it will be a tough one for us."
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