TOM BOYD is convinced centre-half Virgil van Dijk can cut it in England - as the Dutchman would walk into the Celtic team HE played in.

 

The 23-year-old has caused Hoops fans to fear the their prized-asset could be off in the summer after being quoted on Dutch radio saying he would consider a move elsewhere if the right opportunity presented itself.

Barclays Premier League clubs such as Arsenal, Spurs and Southampton have been touted as potential suitors for Van Dijk, whose contract has another two years to run.

But while being a standout in the current Celtic team has brought him to the attention of sides elsewhere, Parkhead legend Boyd believes the former Groningen man would still have shone brightly in the Hoops' star-studded line-up of the late 90s.

Given that team featured the likes of Alan Stubbs, Morten Wieghorst, Mark Rieper and Johan Mjallby, the ex-Celtic skipper says it just underlines the potential of Van Dijk.

Boyd said: "He'd have got into the team and I'd have made him a better player!

"It would have been an easy time of it playing behind him.

"I've worked alongside some of the best Celtic centre-backs in guys like Mark Rieper, Alan Stubbs and Johan Mjallby. They were some tremendous footballers and I'd rank Virgil up there.

"I know that you would class him as a Dutch player who certainly likes to get the ball down and play.

"I'd certainly rate him as highly as some of the players I played alongside."

He added: "I certainly think he's capable of playing at top clubs down south from what I've seen. There's no problem there.

"Selfishly, I hope he doesn't because I want him to stay at Celtic for a number of years. He gives everything in every game and he has performed exceptionally well.

"That's why he has come to the attention of sides like Arsenal. He has everything in his locker to go down there. He has pace, power and he can score goals.

"There have been a couple of blips along the way, of course. But he is just a young boy who is still learning. It takes experience to get all of these notches out of your system but he will do that."

While it is not a foregone conclusion that Van Dijk's time in Scotland is coming to an end, it is surely only a matter of time before someone comes calling for the stopper.

If and when that moment comes, Boyd has faith in boss Ronny Deila to come up with the answer to the centre-half conundrum.

"The key thing is that if he does go I'd like to see him help us get into the Champions League," he said.

"If he stays it would be fantastic to have him in the competition as it would just enhance his reputation.

"How much money would it cost to take him away? It's almost an irrelevance with the way our market is just now.

"If he does go, we just need to put our trust in the manager and the scouts that they can try and find someone either within the club or lined up elsewhere to fill the void."