Ruairi Daly 
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Dedryck Boyata has hailed the role Ivorian defender Kolo Toure played in helping him get back into the first-team.
The 35-year-old veteran hasn’t played since the beginning of last month against Motherwell, but has seemingly taken a mentor and coaching role within the squad.
Boyata’s return to the squad came as a surprise to almost everyone, but has repaid Brendan Rodgers’ faith with two shutouts and a winning goal against St Johnstone.
As quoted by the Herald Scotland, Boyata said of the two-time Premier League winner:
When you are down you always have players who try to rally around you. Players like Kolo. Kolo is a very good person, a very important person in my life. Maybe you don’t know, but when I was at City he was the one who took care of me. I have played games with him before.
Kolo is a special person for me and he knows it because I have told him before. The relationship I have with him has been deep for a long time. When he came in I was the first one to hug him. You need this kind of person around you just to remind you that it is not finished.
It has been a very difficult time from the beginning of the season because I was injured. Coming back from injury, I had to try and get my fitness back, try and get my legs back and try and get my play back too.
I am a grown man. I don’t really need anyone. But on Wednesday night when I scored people came up to me and told me that I deserved it because they have seen me working hard. We have a very good team, a good group. The spirit is very good.
The Belgian defender looked to be on his way out of Celtic after failing to break into the first-team and made just once start against Kilmarnock before last weekend.
With the suspension of Erik Sviatchenko, Boyata took his chance and having worked with Toure, the centre-back looks assured veteran defender
Celtic are in action on Sunday as they look to break the Lisbon Lions’ record and go 27 domestic games without defeat and Boyata could be involved once again in the heart of the Hoops defence.
Kick-off is at 1pm at Paradise.
