Arne Engels targets perfect Belgium birthday bash as Celtic new boy reveals what will change with international call up

Arne Engels reckons making a name for himself with Belgium will be the icing on the cake after the perfect first week at Parkhead.

The Celtic record signing landed in Glasgow in a blockbuster £11m deal from Augsburg on deadline day – and was immediately handed his first call up for the Red Devils. The midfielder is in the mix with Kevin de Bruyne and co just days after making his Hoops debut from the bench in Sunday’s Old Firm demolition derby.

Engels will celebrate his 21st birthday this weekend – and he’s hoping to cap it with his first taste of international football in the Nations League clashes with Israel and France. The former Club Brugge kid said: “It's my birthday on Sunday. I have nothing planned. It is great to be able to celebrate this during this gathering of the Red Devils. Maybe we will eat a piece of cake together!

"It is true that I am not very well known in Belgium and that did not bother me until now. I could easily go to a restaurant without being recognised. That may change now, but it does not bother me either. It is part of the life of a footballer.

“It's a dream to be a Red Devil. It's an incredible feeling. Being called up for the first time, it is a real childhood dream for me. I think everyone in Belgium would dream of playing for the national team. I'm really happy to be here. I was already able to take part in a training session on Tuesday and the other players have already integrated me well.

“I know some of them from when we played in the under-15 national team. It's great to be able to see them again here. The group is super nice, there's a really good atmosphere, it's very dynamic. I only see positive things so far.”

Engels is determined to prove he can cut it with De Bruyne and the rest