Former Celtic central defender Dedryck Boyata won’t feature for Club Brugge in Wednesday evening’s hotly anticipated UEFA Champions League clash at Parkhead.

Having accumulated seven points from their opening four league phase matches, the Hoops sit in a prosperous position at the halfway mark. They know victory against the Belgian champions midweek would give them, according to Opta, an almost certain chance of a last-16 play-off place.

After they put Hearts to the sword on Saturday, Celtic fans are already buzzing for Wednesday’s match. Boyata, who spent four years with the Hoops and won a decade of trophies, was slightly disappointed when the draw was made, however.

Dedryck Boyata Celtic

Indeed, the now 33-year-old won’t feature against his old club because he didn’t even make boss Nicky Hayen’s 25-man Champions League squad. The defender’s contract is up in Belgium at the end of the season, and he has ‘no future’ at Brugge, having not played a single competitive minute since February [RecordSport].

Boyata would likely have relished a return to Celtic Park and a reunion with his old manager, Brendan Rodgers. Under the Irishman, the big Belgian was key to the Hoops’ historic Invincible Treble season, although he won’t get an opportunity to reminisce on old times later this week.

Given that he doesn’t have a future with Brugge, it remains to be seen who Boyata will back on Wednesday.

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