For Dedryck Boyata, the 2016-17 season looked like a lost cause at Celtic.
The 26-year-old defender, struggling with a thigh injury when the season started, had only made one league appearance by the 25th of January, and with Celtic flying high on an impressive winning streak, things didn’t look likely to change.
However, all of a sudden, Brendan Rodgers appeared to change his mind, and the Belgian defender has now started the last four games for the Bhoys, winning all four along the way.
Understandably, however, the weeks preceding this return to the first team were difficult for the player to live, and a January transfer was certainly at the back of his mind, as he explained to DH in Belgium.
He said: “Of course I thought about it, but I told my agents it was no use talking to me unless they had something concrete. I needed to work. Before speaking about all of that, I needed to see the club’s stance, as they are the ones who make the decisions.
“We hadn’t reached one, and finally, everything changed, and I’m on my way to completing another season here. I had a tough start, but my objective is to finish the season here by playing as many games as possible without injuries.”
During his time away from the team, Boyata worked hard on repairing and conditioning his body, sometimes staying in the gym until 1am.
Now free of any physical niggles, the Celtic defender says it’s great to ‘feel free’ again.
That and first-team football will certainly boost any player’s morale.
