'What everyone forgets...': Celtic ace vows to 'protect' teammate amid glowing assessment of 10-goal star

Callum McGregor has told Celtic teammate Arne Engels he can be proud of his “excellent” first season in Glasgow, and detailed why fans will see the young Belgian get even better next season.

The 21-year-old midfielder moved to Celtic Park on the final day of the summer transfer window after being chased by Brendan Rodgers for a number of weeks. One of the German top flight’s most highly-rated youngsters, the talented Engels was never likely to be sold on the cheap by Bundesliga outfit Augsburg but, with his ceiling so high, the Celtic board backed their manager and pushed the boat out to get him, paying a record fee of £11million.

Viewed as a long-term replacement for the outgoing Matt O’Riley, fan excitement around the purchase of Engels was palpable. Praised for his technical attributes, football commentator and Bundesliga expert Derek Rae singled out the Belgian’s debut performance against Borussia Dortmund and Jude Bellingham in 2023 as the reason he viewed him as one of the league’s ‘best-kept secrets’.

A debut goal against Hearts only heightened the expectation amongst supporters, but when his form took a slight dip at the turn of the year he was met with a degree of criticism that his Celtic captain thinks has been overplayed.

Arne Engels of Celtic celebrates with injured Kasper Schmeichel at Tannadice | Getty Images

“I think what everyone forgets is he is still so young,” said McGregor in the aftermath of the 1-1 draw with Rangers. “He is such a young player. He's in his first season and nominated for young player of the year and shows how well he has done. He comes with a mammoth price tag, straight away everyone forgets the fact he is only 21, and sometimes in the building we think he is way more mature than what he actually is.

“I think he has done amazing, again he was excellent in that midfield three and Paulo [Bernardo] coming into the game I thought was excellent as well. He can be really proud of his first season because I know how difficult it is, like I said, and now people are not cutting him the slack because he has been that good and demand more from him, because he has come with a big price tag.”

Despite strong competition for his position, Rodgers has kept faith the Belgian international ahead of the likes of Paulo Bernardo and Luke McCowan. Regularly picked to start the big games for Celtic this season, he’s part of a strong midfield trio alongside the skipper and Reo Hatate. Engels has rewarded Rodger’s faith in him too, scoring 10 goals and assisting 12 more at Celtic Park - but McGregor has told the club’s supporters the best is yet to come.

McGregor - ‘We will protect him’

“We have to protect him and we will,” said McGregor. “He has got massive quality, massive ability. He has got a great temperament, like I said, he has scored 10 goals, a really good return for his first season. He has played 10 games in the Champions League, he is only going to get better, which is a brilliant thing for us. For a first season, to come in and settle the way that he has, we are really proud of him and happy with what he has done.

“Massive, he has played 10 Champions League games, all these derby games, and a part of a successful Celtic team who are hopefully going to finish at least 17 points clear, and we have another Cup Final to add to what we have already done. To be a part of it, to be a huge part of it, to have played so many games then what a really good return and such a bulk of work that he will have that experience and he will come back in the summer and be even better for it."