Oostende manager Alexander Blessin has claimed Celtic loan bhoy Jack Hendry is the most important player in his side and is one of the best defenders in the Belgian League.
The club currently sits eleventh in the table and have only one win in their last five.
However, the manager has been full of praise for Hendry and his qualities as a leader for his side.
“When I speak to Jack, I don’t understand a word he says!” Blessin joked to RecordSport.
“But his team mates do because he’s a great talker in defence. He makes the people he’s playing with better. You can see them listening to him.
“He’s been a tower of experience for us.
“Jack’s the most important member of the team this season and he’s one of the best defenders in the league.
“He’s a natural leader and his presence has brought on his central defensive partners, Arthur Theate and Anton Tanghe.
“Their improvement is largely down to Jack Hendry because he coaches them during the game and organises them. He can defend, he’s fast and he’s also a useful weapon at attacks because of his height.
“When you get signed by a club the size of Celtic at such a young age, then you obviously must have a lot of qualities.”
Jack struggled to make the transition from Dundee to Celtic and failed to really capitalise on the starts he did get for the Hoops.
Comments by Blessin will mystify a lot of the Celtic support who never seen the leadership qualities in the player,
Playing away from the limelight and the pressure of Celtic will certainly not hurt. When you’re at the club, every pass you make or tackle you mistime is scrutinised.
Jack looks like he’s been able to enjoy his football without the burden of expectation.
We regularly see talented players come to Celtic but fail to make the grade because the pressure and responsibility can be too much.
We’d still suggest it’s a very outside chance Jack comes back to Celtic in the summer to challenge for a first team slot, but then again, stranger things have happened.
