Celtic boss Ronny Deila tips Dedryck Boyata to be a 'top international'
Wednesday 24 June 2015 16:53, UK
Celtic manager Ronny Deila believes recent signing Dedryck Boyata has the potential to become a 'top international'.
The 24-year-old Belgian moved to Parkhead from Manchester City in a four-year deal earlier this month after compatriot, and fellow-central defender, Jason Denayer returned to the Etihad following a season-long loan.
Boyata figured rarely for Manuel Pellegrini's side during his six-year stay at the Premier League club but Deila believes he has already seen enough to know he will play a key role in the club's efforts to reach the group stages of the Champions League.
Speaking at the club's Lennoxtown training ground, the Norwegian said: "He is a great talent who has a very high ability.
"He needs matches now to get to match fitness and our task is to get his potential out and I think that if we can do that we have a top international in our squad.
'Experience'
"But with Dedryck, like everyone else, they need time to adapt and settle in and get used to the way we want to play football.
"He has a lot of experience at being at a big club. He hasn't played so many games but he knows what it's about being at a big club and he has trained with, and seen, the best players for so many years. So he is very hungry to play games and get out his own potential and we are going to help him do that."
And Deila is confident of retaining the services of James Forrest despite the Scotland winger being linked with a move to Sky Bet Championship side Bolton Wanderers.
Bolton are managed by former Celtic boss Neil Lennon but Deila believes any move down south would be a step backwards for the 23-year-old who has played over 100 times for the Scottish champions.
"Why go to Bolton? He's at Celtic," said Deila. "I haven't heard anything. James is a very important player and we want to keep him here.
"He's now getting to a level where we can start working to get him better. He has been free of injury for six months now, he's getting more and more consistency in his play and we expect more from him this season than last because of all the injuries.
"It's a big season not just for him but for everybody. I'm delighted for him because he is such a good boy, it's good working with him. I feel very sorry for him coming in and out for four years now. Hopefully he can continue with his consistency and everyone knows what potential he has.
"But we don't want to talk about potential, we want to talk about performances. We are going to work to get James up to the level he can reach."
'Options'
Deila also refused to be drawn on possible transfers targets before revealing he dropped his interest in new Rangers defender Danny Wilson when Boyata signed on at the start of the month.
"We have a lot of options at Celtic," Deila said. "We went for Boyata at Manchester City and we are very happy with that. We only needed one central defender and we got our first choice."
And Deila remains hopeful of partnering Boyata with Virgil van Dijk when Celtic's Champions League qualifying campaign opens against Icelandic side Stjarnan in mid-July, despite persistent reports linking the Dutchman with a move to the Premier League.
Sunderland, Southampton and Norwich are reportedly monitoring the central defender's situation but Deila is confident he will remain part of his squad, at least until the end of the Champions League qualifiers.
"I speak with Virgil all the time - he is very motivated to stay at Celtic," said Deila who was promoting the club's forthcoming friendlies against Den Bosch, Dukla Prague and Real Sociedad at St Mirren Park.
"He enjoys being here every day, he's a very important player for us and his task is to help us get into the Champions League. I've been clear to him and everybody else that he is going to stay here for the qualifiers.
"There's no contact that I'm aware of. He's one year older, hopefully a year brighter and more experienced. He knows what we do on the pitch is the most important thing."
Celtic kick off the new domestic season at home to Ross County on Saturday, August 1.
Click here for the 2015-16 season's fixtures in full.
