Richie Wellens explains Kundai Benyu situation

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Celtic loanee Kundai Benyu hasn’t made an impression at Oldham Athletic.

Oldham Athletic boss Richie Wellens has told the Manchester Evening News that he thinks Celtic loanee Kundai Benyu will be a great player – even if he isn’t getting a game for the Latics right now.

Benyu, 20, came up through the ranks with Ipswich Town having joined the club in 2007, but he decided to move on last summer, joining Celtic after his Ipswich contract expired.

Celtic were able to sign the midfielder for cheap compensation, with manager Brendan Rodgers seemingly viewing the Zimbabwe international as a top talent for the future.

In the first half of the season, Benyu made just two appearances for Celtic as he struggled to break through in a packed midfield, meaning the Bhoys looked to send him out on loan in January.

A move back to England with League One side Oldham Athletic followed, but his move to Boundary Park hasn’t gone well either, as he has played just three games for the Latics since his switch.

In fact, Benyu hasn’t even been named in the Oldham squad for the last two games, and many have been left wondering just why he isn’t involved under manager Richie Wellens.

Wellens has now told the Manchester Evening News that he thinks Benyu is going to become a ‘great player’, predicting big things for the Celtic talent even if he can’t get a game for Oldham right now.

Wellens suggested that competition for places is so strong that he hasn’t found a way to get Benyu in the side, but he just needs to keep learning and improving during his time with the club before returning to Celtic.

“He’s a young player developing and I’ve got no doubts that he’ll go on to be a great player, but it’s been unfortunate for him as the team have been stable and picking up results, so you don’t want to change it too much,” said Wellens. “He’s had an impact on the team because Dan Gardner’s performances have improved dramatically.”

“Kundai just needs to stay patient and use it as part of his development and learning, and make sure his disappointment doesn’t show and he trains properly. In terms of the games where he has been on the bench, it’s been tough to get him on because it’s been games where we’ve been chasing goals. When the game is tight you don’t want to change your central midfielders, you want to change your forwards and your wide men,” he added.