Arne Engels could solve Celtic’s midfield frustrations

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The Celtic Star

·30 September 2025

Arne Engels could solve Celtic’s midfield frustrations

It might be time to put the hardhat on for this one. While some Celtic supporters remain unconvinced by Arne Engels’ contribution at the weekend, others were pleasantly surprised by his display in Saturday’s goalless draw with Hibernian…

Arne Engels with Brendan Rodgers at Firhill. Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Opinions on the young Belgian midfielder remain divided, but against Hibs, there were signs that Engels might be beginning to find his place in Brendan Rodgers’ evolving midfield.

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The Celtic boss commented on Engels prior to the game with Hibs at the weekend on BBC Scotland’s Sportsound. Some have viewed it as a sign Engels is viewed more as a squad player at present. But another way of looking at the manager’s comments is to consider Rodgers may be laying down a challenge for Engels, who appears to have dropped behind Benjamin Nygren in the midfield pecking order, mostly due to the Swede’s greater goals threat.

“Arne’s role in the squad is very, very important. I don’t think there are too many players, if any, that will cement their place in the team. But, of course, it’s one where Benji has played in front of him this season, more because of his goal threat.

Arne Engels – theRangers v Celtic,31 August 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“We lost goals out of our team. A lot of goals. And Arne hasn’t scored as many goals as, say, what Nygren has done in his career. He is a player who affects, creates goals and scores goals. So, for Arne, he just needs to continue what he is doing and provide the goal threat. He works hard. He gives us other qualities that we need within our squad.”

Central midfield has been a topic of constant debate this season. Rodgers has generally settled on a trio of Callum McGregor at the base, with Reo Hatate and Benjamin Nygren operating as the more advanced No.8s. But injuries and rotational tweaks opened the door for something different at the weekend. With Hatate unavailable, Rodgers deployed Luke McCowan alongside Engels ahead of McGregor, and the balance looked quietly promising.

Luke McCowan of Celtic celebrates with teammates Callum McGregor & Johnny Kenny after scoring to give Celtic a 1-0 lead. Celtic v St Mirren, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 03 August 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace. IMAGO / Shutterstock (The Celtic Star)

McCowan, occupying Hatate’s usual left-sided role, brought creativity and composure. Unlike Hatate, whose responsibilities have expanded this season to accommodate Kieran Tierney’s arrival, and the loss of Greg Taylor’s inverted full-back contributions, McCowan’s brief was simpler, focus on linking play and supplying the attack. He executed it well, offering a steady stream of forward passes and intelligent movement.

But it was Engels who provided the afternoon’s most intriguing subplot. Tasked with more defensive responsibility than McCowan, the Belgian impressed with his athleticism, positional awareness, and range of passing. His presence not only protected McGregor but also seemed to liberate the Celtic captain. For the first time in weeks, McGregor was able to venture forward more frequently, reminding everyone of his quality as a creative force.

Celtic captain Callum McGregor looks frustrated at full-time. Final score Celtic 0 Hibernian 0. Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 27 September 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO Shutterstock

The performance also raised an important question, is there now a case to give Engels an extended run, even when options return?

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With Hatate sidelined, Rodgers has the rare opportunity to experiment. One potential configuration would see Engels move to the right of the midfield three, with Nygren shifted to the left-sided No.8 role. Such a setup could maintain defensive balance while adding technical quality on both sides of Celtic’s attacking midfield options.

Benjamin Nygren at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

The benefits of this adjustment would not end with open play. Celtic’s goal and assist threat has diminished markedly following the departures of Kyogo, Nicolas Kühn, and Adam Idah, alongside Jota’s long term injury absence. Engels’ right-footed delivery, paired with Nygren’s left, would provide Rodgers with two natural dead-ball specialists capable of mixing up corner and free-kick routines. In a team that has struggled to find consistent goals from open play, that variety could be invaluable, as could having a consistent penalty taker in the team from the first whistle.

Arne Engels with Don Robertson. theRangers v Celtic,31 August 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Of course, this proposal comes with trade-offs. McCowan, who performed admirably against Hibs, would likely be the player to make way. While the former Dundee man rarely disappoints, he has yet to fully convince Rodgers that he can influence the highest-level fixtures, European nights or matches against theRangers, for example.

As a squad player, McCowan offers depth and creativity, but Engels may possess the physical profile and passing range to make a more decisive impact in such high-stakes encounters.

The midfield debate will not be settled by one game, nor by one tactical shuffle. But Saturday’s performance offered a glimpse of what Celtic’s engine room might look like with Engels given greater responsibility. His presence seemed to bring the best out of McGregor while adding defensive steel and set-piece quality, two areas that have been under scrutiny this season.

Reo Hatate of Celtic Crvena zvezda v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Football, Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia – 24 Sep 2025Belgrade Rajko Mitic Stadium Serbia Photo Nikola Krstic Shutterstock

With Hatate’s absence creating space for experimentation, Rodgers has an opportunity to test a new combination, McGregor at the base, Engels on the right, and Nygren on the left, with room arguably for both to interchange during the game as they did on Saturday. It may not be a permanent solution, but if it provides balance, physicality, and attacking variety, it could become a valuable blueprint, one that helps Celtic navigate both domestic challenges and the rigours of Europe.

For now, Engels remains a work in progress, which is no surprise given his age, but his display against Hibs hinted at what many believe, he has an abundance of untapped potential. Perhaps then it’s time to look beyond first impressions and consider whether the Belgian might be more than just a squad player this season.

In a campaign where midfield balance has perhaps been elusive, Arne Engels might just be the piece that finally brings Celtic’s puzzle together.

Niall J

Continues on the next page…Danny McGrain, David Potter & Willie Fernie – what a combination!

Danny McGrain, David Potter & Willie Fernie – what a combination!

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Out now, order your copy at Celticstarbooks.com

We’re certainly Putting on the Style with the new promotion from Celtic Star Books. David Potter’s final book – Celtic in the Eighties – has been selling wonderfully well since its launch earlier this month. It is by far our fastest-ever seller.

Our launch promotion involved a copy of David’s book signed by Celtic’s fabulous captain for most of that remarkable decade – the equally remarkable Daniel Fergus McGrain – plus a complimentary copy of David Potter’s excellent biography of another legendary Hoops full-back, Alec McNair – Celtic’s Icicle.

That deal proved to be hugely popular, to the extent that we had to ask Danny, who also wrote the foreword in Celtic in the Eighties, to sign another batch of books to satisfy the huge demand, which he kindly agreed to do.

Celtic in the Eighties and Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style both by David Potter. Photo The Celtic Star

The good news – or bad news if you missed out – is that all the copies signed by Danny plus all remaining copies of Celtic’s Icicle sold out very quickly.

However, the even better news is that Danny has now agreed to sign the final batch of Celtic in the Eighties this evening, and for this new promotion we are going to include another of David Potter’s wonderful Celtic biographies as a free gift with each order, whilst the remaining stocks last. This time it will be Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style, a brilliant read.

Celtic 3-0 St Mirren, Scottish Premier League, Celtic Park, 15 May 1982.Celtic captain Danny McGrain collects the championship trophy as Roy Aitken looks on. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Ordering is simple, just place your order for Celtic in the Eighties at celticstarbooks.com/shop and we’ll do the rest, ensuring your copy is signed by Danny and a complimentary Willie Fernie book dispatched by the next working day, whilst stocks last, from Wednesday of this week after Danny does the honours tonight on his signing duties.

Danny McGrain signing copies of Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Photo: Celtic Star Books

No need to Pile on the Agony…get not one but two fantastic Celtic books by the one and only David Potter for just £20 plus postage by ordering today and Celtic legend Danny McGrain will sign you book!

Please note that stocks are now running very low indeed and the book will NOT be reprinted. Click on the image below to order…

Matt Corr

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Out now on Celtic Star Books. Click on image above to order.