Arne Engels arrived at Celtic Park on deadline day as the club's most expensive import, which added a fierce degree of expectation to the transfer.

The 21-year-old has shone in moments in green and white so far, but almost certainly has more to show as he grows into life in Glasgow while working under Brendan Rodgers.

Between Engels, Paulo Bernardo, Reo Hatate and Luke McCowan the Celtic manager has plenty to ponder in his starting line-up's midfield, and it's the latter player who James McFadden reckons has potentially upset expectations.

Speaking to Open Goal, the former Scotland internationalist said: "I think McCowan’s come into the team and done really well, he’s waited for his chance and he’s got it, keep him in.

"It would be a big call to leave Engels out, but he’s a young player as well, you can’t give him a game all the time.

"The thing is, the price tag. Obviously, people say don’t worry about the price tag, he’s a young player. It’s a semi-final, so he’s one of them as well where [Rodgers will] think: I’ve spent a fortune on him, I need to play him in the big games."

Read more: 

It's worth noting McCowan remains cup tied for tomorrow's (Saturday) Scottish League Cup semi-final against Aberdeen, giving he featured in the early stages of the competition for former club Dundee.

Given this fact, there is indeed a good chance Engels starts for Celtic at Hampden – with captain Callum McGregor likely to return to the starting XI fold.

Ahead of Celtic's hard-fought stalemate against Atalanta in the Champions League last week, Stewart Ross cast an analytical eye over Engels while asking the question: Does Celtic's record signing deserve his recent criticism?