FALLEN ENGELS

£11m Arne now a fringe player but Grant tips him and frozen-out Bernardo to prove worth

- BY RYAN MCDONALD

ARNE ENGELS might be Celtic's record signing.

But he's spent more time warming the bench than lighting up Parkhead this season.

Peter Grant though is adamant the out-of-favour Belgian will eventually prove his worth.

And the Hoops legend has urged fans to forget about the midfielders whopping £11million price tag.

Engels, 22, has endured a frustrating campaign after slipping down the pecking order behind summer arrival Benjamin Nygren.

The ex-Augsburg playmaker's started just four of his 10 appearances and a rare run-out against Hibs on Saturday came and went without much impact.

For some supporters, patience is running thin with a player once tipped for the top of the Bundesliga.

Even after 23 goal contributions last term, the jury has remained out. Now a fringe player, questions linger over whether Engels will ever fulfil his potential in Glasgow.

But Grant reckons the four-times capped Belgian has been harshly judged.

In an exclusive interview with Record Sport, Grant said: "It's been quite a difficult season for Engels. If you're not playing, you end up lacking that little bit of confidence.

"What you end up doing is taking that extra touch to make sure everything's perfect, instead of playing with that freedom.

"Then you get caught in possession and the ball bobbles off you because you're thinking too much about it.