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Is Boyata next for the turnaround treatment?

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The cynical might have thought shop window when Dedryck Boyata was named in the Celtic side today but Brendan Rodgers clearly has other ideas.

It was just the second appearance of the season for the 26-year-old with little in the way of direct opposition.

Rodgers has already established a reputation for reviving flagging careers with Boyata next in line for the James Forrest and Stuart Armstrong treatment.

It seems that Anderlecht can forget any notion that the defender will be returning to Belgium as the Celtic boss has very definite ideas of where Boyata’s career needs to go.

“I thought Dedryck Boyata looked real quality today,” Rodgers told the Sporting Life after watching his side beat Albion Rovers 3-0 in the Scottish Cup.

“He looked like the player I knew as a really young player at Manchester City.

“I’ve seen him play against Didier Drogba and he was fantastic, strong, aggressive, quick, and kept it simple.

“He hasn’t had a chance to play because of the others who’ve been playing but in the last few weeks in training he has been great and he was really focused – no mistakes, really simple, get on the front foot, win your headers and you can be a player.

“He has all the attributes that I love, He is big, has a good spring. He can defend, he steps forward and defends and he can play.

“The problem in the past is he has made mistakes – you can’t make mistakes and that is concentration but he was very focused and knew this might be his moment.

“He has the shirt, he played well, now stay in the team.”

If Boyata is in the Celtic side that faces St Johnstone on Wednesday night the rehabilitation programme will be well underway.

If he improves in line with Forrest, Armstrong and others there’s little doubt that it will be one of the biggest turnaround’s ever if Boyata is to enjoy a meaningful Celtic career.

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