ARNE'S LOVING BEING BACK IN A HAPPY PLACE

Engels brimming with confidence

- BY FRASER WILSON

ARNE ENGELS has found his happy place again at Celtic but knows he can't allow it to become a comfort zone as he looks to take his game to another level.

The Belgian’s absence from the starting XI for all but five games under Brendan Rodgers in the first three months of the campaign had punters scratching their heads as the Hoops struggled for a creative spark.

Since Rodgers’ exit the 22-year-old has gone from bit part to lead role. He's started five of Wilfried Nancy's six games in charge and, before that, seven of Martin O'Neill's eight as interim boss.

Against Livingston on Saturday he looked to be right back in his groove beside Callum McGregor (right) in the engine room.

Engels knows he needs to keep his foot to the floor now that he’s strapped back in for the title race.

And ahead of tonight's visit to Motherwell, where victory would see Celtic go level on points with leaders Hearts, the £11million record signing from Augsburg vowed to keep motoring.

The midfielder said: “Yeah, I'm in a really happy place, playing a lot and feeling really confident.

“I had a difficult period at the beginning of the season because I didn't really play a lot.