Chris Sutton suggests Jack Hendry grasps Zenit opportunity

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Jack Hendry could feature for Brendan Rodgers’s Celtic against Zenit Saint Petersburg in the Europa League.

Chris Sutton has suggested in The Daily Record that Celtic defender Jack Hendry will have to make the most of the chance he will get Zenit Saint Petersburg next week.

Celtic will take on Russian club Zenit at Celtic Park in the first leg of the round of 32 in the Europa League next Thursday evening.

Hendry, who joined the Hoops from Scottish Premiership rivals Dundee on January transfer deadline day for a fee reported by Sky Sports to be worth £1.2 million, is likely to start for the Glasgow giants.

Former Celtic striker Sutton has urged the 22-year-old centre-back to make the most of the change he is likely to get against Zenit.

Sutton wrote in The Daily Record: “This is a massive chance for him. Celtic’s defending wasn’t exactly wonderful in the group stage, apart from the clean sheet in Brussels where Dedryck Boyata and Jozo Simunovic shone.

“The Bosnian will likely start, barring any setbacks against Partick today, and Hendry will partner him.

“If he wants to prove to the Parkhead fans he’s the real deal and the potential future mainstay of the backline – as his manager believes – this is a great chance to prove it.”

The Real Deal?

Hendry is a very young but talented central defender, and it will be interesting to see how he copes against Zenit at Celtic Park on a big European night.

It will be a test of the Scotsman’s character to replace Dedryck Boyata in the team, and it will also be a good learning curve for the youngster.

While one game does not – or at least should not – make or break a player, a good performance against Zenit will go a long way in making Hendry a popular figure among the Celtic fans.