Boyata Hopes Europa League Will Boost Belgium Chances

Celtic defender Dedryck Boyata hopes to boost his Euro 2016 chances by making a statement against Fenerbahce on Thursday.

The Belgian stopper is dreaming of representing the Red Devils at next year's European Championship finals in France.

But first he knows he needs to impress national boss Marc Wilmots.

Boyata, 24, won his only full cap for the Low Country back in October 2010 but was included in the squad for this month's qualifying victories over Bosnia and Cyprus.

Belgium now face two crucial clashes with Andorra and Israel which will decide their Group B fate and the Parkhead centre-back believes he can force his way into Wilmots plans if he produces against the Hoops' Europa League opponents when they visit Glasgow later this week.

"Thursday is a really big game and one I want to play well in so I can make a statement," he said.

"Belgium have got the next game in Andorra and if we win, I think we can go through. Then we can look to the last game against Israel to get the first spot.

"My performances in our European matches at Celtic will be really important to me making the international team because the Belgian squad is full of potential players and I don't think it is easy to get into the team.

"In my position, if I have the chance to get in then I want to be able to say to myself that I did everything I could."

He added: "For me coming here, it was about getting a lot of games. I've maybe played more here already than I have in the last three years.

"Now I've got a chance to be in the Belgian squad, which is a plus for me. Now that I'm in the Belgian team my goal will be to stay there. To do that I will need to play well."

Former Manchester City youngster Boyata has not had the easiest of transitions into Scottish football since moving north of the border as his new side crashed out of the Champions League and let Aberdeen take a four-point lead at the top of the Premiership.

But he has hardly been helped by the merry-go-round that is Celtic boss Ronny Deila's team selections.

Since Virgil van Dijk departed to Southampton, Boyata has lined up alongside three different central-defensive partners - Charlie Mulgrew, Jozo Simunovic and Efe Ambrose - in the space of four games.

But the summer recruit is not one to complain, saying: "It's always difficult for a manager to get the best ability (in his team selection) so I understand why he is always changing the players.

"From my point, I have been playing with Charlie, Efe and Jozo and the three of them are really good players. I haven't had any issues with them."

There will be some more familiar faces in Fenerbahce's line-up on Thursday. They boast former Manchester United stars Robin van Persie and Nani but Boyata insists he is not running scared of the Holland and Portugal internationals.

"When I saw the draw with Fenerbahce, Ajax and Molde I was really happy," he said.

"Sometimes you can get the sensation of being scared but I was happy because I knew I'd be playing in big games.

"They have some big names but they are playing for a different team. They are not playing for an English team any more. Thursday will be a completely different situation. I'm with a different team, they are with a different team.

I'm sure the atmosphere will be different too."