Dedryck Boyata has revealed that Vincent Kompany was one of the first to congratulate him in the aftermath of his World Cup performance for Belgium this week.

Deputising for the injured 32-year-old and Thomas Vermaelen, Boyata featured for the 3-0 win over Panama on Monday. The Belgians face Tunisia on Saturday before closing the group with a game against England and while Boyata is keen on hanging onto his place he will know himself that if Kompany and Vermaelen are fit as the tournament progresses he may find himself on the bench.

“A dream became a reality for me against Panama,” said the Celtic defender. “If you’d told me two years ago I’d play at a World Cup, I wouldn’t have believed you. I must thank my team-mates for their support. “The people of Belgium did not know me. I’ve never played in my home country. But it’s fun to win over any sceptics.

“The coach will decide what happens next. If he puts me on the bench I won’t complain. The collective comes first.”

Boyata and Kompany came together at Manchester City, where Boyata moved when he first left his home town of Brussels.

The Parkhead defender has not always been without his critics in a career that has been prone to error at times but he has revealed that Kompany was his biggest cheerleader as he made his bow at the World Cup.

“I’d rather keep to myself what Vincent had to say to me after my performance, but he really touched my heart,” said Boyata. “I learned to grow with him, but it’s important for me to make my own way and I’ve achieved my goal. He’s become just another team-mate.

?“I’m pleased with my performance and with that of the Belgium team as a whole. It was my first World Cup match and I had to keep my emotions in check. It was a real performance.”

Boyata will find himself with more supporters than normal when the final group game of Group G takes place. If he keeps his place in the team, Boyata will be going up against Harry Kane’s England side.

Further exposure will highlight the fact that he has only a year remaining on his current Celtic contract and already there has been reports that Lazio have been keeping tabs on the player.

Italian newspaper Il Messaggero have suggested that the Serie A club regard Boyata as a replacement for the outgoing Stefan de Vrij. They have have been heavily linked with Sassuolo man Francesco Acerbi but with those talks at a stand still, Lazio could be about to turn their attention to Boyata.

For now, though, the player is intent on making the most of the experience of playing at World Cup. The defender was unsure up until the last minute whether or not he would make Roberto Martinez’ squad for the tournament so having found himself on the park, he is reluctant to allow his long-term future to act as a distraction.

“Right now, I am concentrating on the World Cup. I am not thinking about my future,” he said. “I still have a year on my contract and we will see after the summer if I continue with Celtic again.”