Davie Hay believes that Filip Benkovic has had a massive impact on Celtic’s dramatic improvement in form.
The on loan Leicester City defender has slotted in effortlessly to the Celtic defence at the same time as the goals have flowed at the other end of the pitch.
Benkovic displays some ‘Van Dijk’ like qualities in the centre of defence as he sweeps up without fuss and comfortably breaks forward with the ball.
Hibs have been the only team to score against Celtic in Benkovic’s six appearances with Hay looking forward to seeing the Croat exert an even bigger influence across the team.
In the Evening Times he states: “Having without praised the attacking element, it’s only right I talk up someone who joined slightly under the radar but is a player I really like and I don’t think I’m the only one who has really taken to Filip Benkovic.
“For me, he looks the part. That’s huge. He runs like a centre-half, has the build of a natural defender and, so far, as strolled through Scottish football.
“Benkovic is a reliable central defender, which is exactly what Celtic have been searching for.
“Calm under the ball or with it at his feet, he reads the game superbly, never seems to be rushed and I can see why Leicester City paid £13million for him in the summer.
“Rodgers has done well to get him in. The big question now is whether he stays until the end of the season.
“There has been talk of Harry Maguire, Leicester’s England centre-half, moving in January for £80m – an astonishing amount of money.
“Were that to happen then Benkovic would likely head back down the road, and that would be a real shame because I rather like the idea of watching him for a bit longer.”
Leicester were able to resist bids of around £60m for Maguire in the summer and are likely to be looking for closer to £80m to sell the England defender in January.
A summer departure is more likely which would provide Leicester with a massive profit while a ready made replacement with a season’s experience at Celtic is ready to step in.
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