I won’t let Anderlecht ruin Christmas

DEDRYCK BOYATA has warned a resurgent Anderlecht there is no chance he will allow them to dump Celtic out of Europe — as it would ruin his Christmas. Brendan Rodgers’ men just need to avoid losing by a three-goal margin if they are to finish third in Group B and claim a place in the Europa League. But Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s side will arrive in Glasgow full of confidence they can overcome the Scottish champions tomorrow night. At the weekend, former Celtic target Henry Onyekuru

fired Anderlecht to a 2-1 victory at Lokeren, their third league win in a row. But Belgian international Boyata won’t even contemplate the prospect of Celtic slipping to a disastrous European exit from such a position of strength. The 27-year-old defender said: ‘Since Anderlecht got their new manager, they have been doing better than when we played them over there the first time. ‘So it will be a difficult game for us, but I refuse to think about us losing to them. ‘That would ruin Christmas — in fact, it would ruin everything!’ While Celtic are used to teams sitting in at Parkhead, Boyata hopes the Belgian side’s need for goals will leave them vulnerable to being picked off on the break. ‘It could help us that they need to come and attack,’ he said. ‘We don’t get much of that kind of approach in the Scottish Premiership, but the Champions League is different because the teams are quicker and sharper. ‘So this game could be very open because they have to score goals.’ James Forrest is set to play a key role for Celtic tomorrow night — and boss Rodgers saluted the ‘brilliant’ winger after he reached double figures for the first time in a season with a brace in Saturday’s 5-1 win over Motherwell. Odsonne Edouard, the 19-year-old striker on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, hit the headlines with a hat-trick in what was only his third start for the club. But Rodgers, who revealed on Saturday that Patrick Roberts will be sidelined for three months due to injury, reserved special praise for Forrest after he came on as part of a double substitution alongside Callum McGregor in the 67th minute with the score at 2-1 to Celtic. The 26-year-old Scotland international helped himself to a double to take his goals tally so far to ten as Celtic extended their unbeaten domestic run to 67 games. ‘For me, James has been brilliant,’ said Rodgers. ‘It has been a joy to see him grow and develop in my time here. ‘You can see he is a real goal threat, inside of his left foot, then outside of his right — they were two brilliant finishes.’ Rodgers also revealed that Celtic have an option to buy Edouard when his loan deal expires next summer. ‘I have been patient,’ said the young Frenchman. ‘But I know the manager trusts me, so I couldn’t be happier.’