Arne Engels might have just turned 21 earlier this month, but Celtic's £11million summer signing is already displaying all the qualities to suggest that the outlay is more than merited.
The former Augsburg midfielder joined the Hoops on Deadline Day, penning a four-year deal.
He was brought in as a replacement for Matt O'Riley and so far from his four appearances, he's slotted into the Celtic team seamlessly - even taking up penalty responsibilities at this early stage in his Parkhead career.
Engels, who also earned his first Belgium national team cap in a whirlwind few weeks, scored and assisted during Celtic's emphatic 5-1 UEFA Champions League win against Slovan Bratislava last week.
That instant contribution for a young player moving to a new club with high expectations is something that's impressed former Hoops favourite, Chris Sutton, who reckons the starlet has an old head on young shoulders after watching him contribute positively every time he's donned the Hoops shirt.
Brendan Rodgers’ side also acquired Alex Valle on loan from Barcelona, landed Adam Idah, Kasper Schmeichel, Viljami Sinisalo, Paulo Bernardo, Luke McCowan, and Auston Trusty on permanent contract - with the Celtic board backing their manager to compete strongly on all fronts again this season.
“Well, they have had a brilliant start," Sutton told OLBG as he began reflecting on that momentous opening night victory over the Slovakian Champions.
"I know that was against Slovan Bratislava, who are the lowest-ranked team in the competition, but it’s more the manner in which Celtic won and they've had a brilliant start to the season. And actually, they sold their best player Matt O'Riley to Brighton, who was unfortunately injured in his first game, I think in the Carabao Cup against Crawley.
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“From a Celtic perspective, they had an excellent pre-season, went to the US, beat Manchester City and Chelsea, and started the season really strongly.
"I think the important thing from Celtic's perspective is that they did some hard work in the transfer market. They've signed some decent players. Arne Engels, who was a club record signing, £11 million, has come into that midfield area and the question was, could anybody replace O'Riley’s quality?
“Albeit, the next couple of games, Dortmund away and Atalanta away are tricky games on the face of things. I think Celtic will try and impose themselves on both sides, but they've given themselves a decent chance. They've got Zagreb and Club Bruges to come, and Leipzig at home, which won't be an easy game, but Celtic have beaten Leipzig at home before, then it could go to the last game against Aston Villa.
“Celtic aren't going to qualify automatically, but they could certainly, with the start they've had, get into the playoff rounds. It's really difficult for Celtic and Rangers to compete financially in European competition with the might of the wealth that there is in the Premier League.
“Brendan Rodgers is now in his second season back for Celtic. It took a while to get going in his first season. In the last three months of the season, Celtic were excellent. Now that's carried on into the start of this season, so there's a lot of positive signs for Celtic”.
