THE story goes that Dedryck Boyata was at Celtic’s training centre hours after the first leg of what could become a unique treble was achieved.

He was so far out of the first-team picture at that stage, a troublesome hamstring preventing any chance to impress, and so a work out rather than a blow-out was on the Belgian’s mind in the aftermath of the League Cup Final win over Aberdeen.

That was in November. Boyata was in the Hampden main stand. When Saturday comes, the defender will be one of the first names down on Brendan Rodgers’s team sheet. What a transformation over five months for a player who looked to be on his way out of the club.

Boyata has been superb since getting himself fit and back into the side. He’s even scored five goals, one at Pittodrie earlier this month, and at Ibrox. In many ways, he’s becoming the full package which is a lot better than being a spectator.

Boyata said: “I watched the first final from the stand. I had barely played a game by then. That was in November, I played a game that money but then hurt my hamstring again and it was a hard moment.

“First of all as a player you want to participate in every moment, every great moment for the team. You want to be a part of it, say you’ve been on the pitch or came on. If you manage to get a few games and get to the final and don’t play then you can still say you took part.

“Being in this position today feels good and something I’ve learned is you need to enjoy the moment. I’ve come from far. I don’t really want to think about it because there were some negative moments, some bad moments.

“I’m not pointing at anyone, I did the injury myself then I came back and did it again. Mentally it was difficult but things have changed and you can only go forward.”

Boyata hasn’t had much luck when it comes to cup finals. The reason for this during his time at Manchester City was Roberto Mancini, the manager and not a hugely popular figure, and the Celtic man just about managed not spill all the beans.

He said: “I was on the bench for the FA Cup final with City against Stoke. I didn’t get on. I played the Community Shield against Arsenal when we lost 3-0.

“I played all the games for the Carling Cup then was in the stand for the final three years ago.

“Yes, but that’s another story. It was disappointing? Of course, but that’s life. I can’t say anything about. That’s just how it was.”

Boyata is in a much better place now. He deserves a lot of respect for working so hard.

He said: “If we could finish the season with a treble and be unbeaten, that would be my dream come true.”