Loan players are temporary, success opens the door for others to follow Benkovic etc

FILIP BENKOVIC has been speaking to the Croatian media outlet Sporske Novosti about his season long loan at Celtic and his hopes and aspirations for next season when he returns to his own club Leicester City.

And the Croatian central defender reckons that his time at Celtic will have helped prepare him for the challenge of playing in the English Premier League.

Forget all about click baiting articles that try to suggest that Benkovic or indeed any of the other loan players will be prepared to hang around Scottish football rather than return to their own clubs in England, France and Germany.

Yes we might get Timo Weah for another season – if we like him and he likes us, PSG seem open to extending his stay for another year but the other three will head back to Leicester City, West Brom and Dortmund.

Oli Burke has made no secret of his desire to stay but West Brom spent £15million on him when they bought him from RB Leipzig and if Burke is wanted at Celtic they would look at the very least to get their money back.

That effectively is the end of that.

Jerry Toljan took a pay cut to come to Celtic and he’ll be keen to head back to the Bundesliga, hopefully with a couple of medals to show for it.

But with these boys all enjoying successful loan periods in Glasgow there are going to be other players out there who aren’t getting game-time at the biggest clubs in the richest leagues who might fancy playing under the Disco lights in the Champions League next season.

Back to Benkovic, here is what he’s had to say today.

“Here (at Celtic), I have played a lot of high level games, which has helped me a lot.

“But I think I have plenty of room for progress. I need to work, to improve, to play in every part of the game, I just have to continue to this kind of rhythm with strong work in training.

“It is important to respect the coaches and team-mates and be honest in training and with everyone around you.

“I want to make another step at the end of the season. I want to show that I can play in the English Premier League.

“It’s a formula for growth, a recipe for further progress, I think I’m on the right track.

“I just want to believe in myself, and I definitely believe. I have never lacked self-confidence.

“But I want to emphasise that I still have to make progress.

“I can still do a lot of work on my game to be an even more complete player, I just need to work.

“I set goals very high – I’ll do absolutely everything to reach them.”

Benkovic is currently out the side with an ankle injury picked up in the recent match against Hamilton at Celtic Park.

“That’s me, a magnet for trouble. Before the injury, everything was super, I was just too happy.

“Regardless of the injury that, I hope, will not keep me out from the field for too long, I enjoy everything.

“The matches up here play at a constant speed, every two of three days.

“Of course, I believe that I will continue to progress and that my performance will be even better.”

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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