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'Reap the benefits’ - Hay delivers verdict on WC participation of Celtic defender
Former Celtic boss Davie Hay thinks that the Hoops can only benefit from Dedryck Boyata’s participation in the World Cup.
The centre-back has been selected for the Belgian squad for the tournament in Russia, and even though he is unlikely to be a starter for his national side, Hay believes that it will improve the often criticised defender’s performances going forward.
“It is a fabulous squad that he is part of and you would have to say that Celtic will reap the benefit of him going and training in that kind of company” he said, as quoted in the Evening Times.
“I don’t know how much game time he will actually get. However, the entire experience is one that he will relish.”
Boyata has had an up and down season for the Bhoys but the 27-year-old has impressed Belgium boss Roberto Martinez enough to get into the squad.
Football Insider verdict
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Dedryck Boyata has had one of the most bizarre careers in recent years. He seemed on the way out of Celtic before Brendan Rodgers rescued him from a career seemingly going nowhere and he has been a mainstay of the Hoops team for the last year and a half. And he hasn’t even played that well for the Bhoys. As Davie Hay suggests though, playing with a fancied Belgian side could give him plenty of confidence going into next season – or it could make no difference at all and he could be as inconsistent as he always is. Despite his inconsistencies you can’t argue with the fact that he has made the World Cup, and that is testament to the fact that he is willing to try and make up for his mistakes, and on his day he can be a useful player to have in the team. The big test for next season, will be to make sure that he cuts out the mistakes, and if a trip to the World Cup helps that then all is good for the Bhoys.
In other Celtic news, a Hoops legend gave his verdict on some recent club departures
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