GOOD DED WILL STILL BE HAILED

CRAIG GORDON reckons Dedryck Boyata will win over the Celtic support again by producing performances like Sunday’s Old Firm triumph.

The Hoops keeper reckons his team sent out a clear message the champs are still top dogs despite Gers’ growing confidence under Steven Gerrard – and turbulence behind the scenes at Parkhead.

Gordon insists the win puts all the aggro surrounding Moussa Dembele’s war of words with Brendan Rodgers behind them.

But fans are less quick to forget the previous upheaval during the transfer window when Boyata wanted to leave in a £9million move to Fulham – then declared himself unavailable to play in the Champions League qualifier against AEK Athens.

However, since making his return to action Boyata has stiffened Celtic’s resolve, helping them to three consecutive clean sheets.

Gordon said: “Dedryck’s a fantastic player and he showed in the last three games how important he actually is to the team.

“He got a bit of stick from the fans over the last season or so but they’ve realised now, when he was missing, how much he does actually bring to the team.

“He went to the World Cup and played in three games there and he has taken confidence from that.

“Belgium have some of the best defenders in the world. Dedryck has taken a lot from them and come back even better.

“But for us as players we always knew how good he was and how good he could be. He has everything, he’s so quick as well.

“So to have him back for me has been huge. You can see that in the way the team is playing as well.

“On the pitch he couldn’t have done much more over the last three games to win over the fans.

“The transfer window has gone now. We’ve got the team that we’re going to continue with at least until January so everybody knows where we stand.”