He quietly went about his business, in just three Celtic appearances there is a definite aura about Filip Benkovic.
St Johnstone had looked lively in the first ten minutes of Sunday’s match but alongside Dedryck Boyata the on loan Leicester City man showed what a proper defender looks like.
It has taken Boyata into his fourth season as a Celtic player to show the level of assurance required at the back. Benkovic only turned 21 in July but already he looks as if he has seen it all before with nothing phasing him.
The quality of opposition that he has faced so far isn’t the highest but the same was said of Virgil van Dijk a few years before he was transferred for £75m.
Against St Johnstone Benkovic only played for an hour but after the international break he is likely to be a key player as Celtic look to build on the form and confidence boost they discovered in Perth.
Domestically Celtic have only conceded goals in one of their last six SPFL matches, significantly that was at Kilmarnock when Benkovic pulled out injured.
With Hibs and Hearts coming up next on the domestic fixture list the Celtic defence will be in for a greater test than they’ve had in recent weeks.
Neither Boyata or Benkovic will be around this time next year but with a serious domestic threat emerging the new look defence can play a key role in ensuring that the successes of the last two seasons continues on through the current campaign.
