IT may, even with the defensive failings that have cost Celtic so dear in both Scotland and Europe this season, be unwise for Brendan Rodgers to pitch Filip Benkovic straight into the madness and mayhem of the game against Rangers at Parkhead early this afternoon.

Benkovic, the Croatian centre half who agreed a season-long loan deal with the Scottish champions before the transfer window closed at midnight on Friday, is considered to be an exceptional prospect in his homeland.

Leicester City, who bought him from Dinamo Zagreb for £13 million earlier this month, are certainly of that opinion.

Yet, the 21-year-old has only taken part in two training sessions with his new team mates since arriving in Glasgow and the first Old Firm game of the season is likely to come too soon for him. "I'm very happy to be here,” he said. “But this has happened so fast, maybe in one day.”

Can Benkovic, though, help Celtic to get the better of the Ibrox club in the coming months, successfully defend the Betfred Cup, Ladbrokes Premiership and William Hill Scottish Cup and progress to the knock-out stages of the Europa League? There are certainly high hopes for the new arrival.

Concerns about reliability of their backline, despite the return of Dedryck Boyata to the fray after his very public fall-out with the club over their refusal to sell him last month, remain rife among the Celtic support.

With Rangers resurgent under their new manager Steven Gerrard - who has strengthened his rearguard considerably with the signing of Jon Flanagan, Connor Goldson, Nikola Katic, Allan McGregor and Joe Worrall – there are fears their defensive issues could bring about an end to their period of dominance in this country.

It is asking a lot of an individual who has played fewer than 60 games of senior football for Zagreb to solve what is, irrespective of the success they have enjoyed both at home and abroad under Rodgers in the past two years, a long-standing problem.

However, the 6ft 4in player, who took in the second leg of the Europa League play-off match against Suduva at Celtic Park on Thursday evening before completing the temporary move, welcomes the demands that will be on him to perform to a high standard and the intense scrutiny he will be under whenever he takes to the field.

“I'm very happy that I finished up here because this is a very big club with such a big history," he said. "I was at the game this week and I can say only that it was unbelievable.

“This crowd was amazing. They lived with the players for the whole game, for the 90 minute. They are so passionate. I liked what I saw. I can't wait to play in front of them

“I will promise that I will do my best in every game and every training session. I know I can improve on each part of my game and get better, I want to reach as high level as possible. I will do my best give all my blood to this club. This is all can promise.”

Benkovic added: “This club is only interested in winning and getting titles. I am also a player and person who only wants to win and improve every day on each part of my game. Our goal this season is to win every title and get out of our group in Europe, which I think we can do.

“I believe the club have the same ambitions and with this crowd and these people and their passion I believe we can do some big things.”

Kristoffer Ajer and Boyata should get the nod to play for today after linking well and helping Celtic to keep clean sheets in their last two outings against Hamilton and Suduva.

But pairing Benkovic with Jozo Simunovic, who he knows well from his time at Zagreb, is something that Rodgers is sure to experiment when his new recruit has had time to familiarise himself with his surroundings.

“I know Jozo,” he told Celtic TV. “He played at Dinamo Zagreb also. He is a very good guy and a very good player. I am good friends with him. Unfortunately, we couldn’t speak before I joined because it all happened in one day. But in training we speak and he has told me more about the situation here. I can’t wait.”

Whoever is involved in the Celtic defence for a game against Rangers that is, due to the respective form of both clubs and the occupants of the technical areas, set to attract massive interest, Rodgers knows the importance of remaining composed.

"It is just about staying calm and focused", he said. "We know how we want to play, we play really aggressively. The last couple of years we have been dominant in the fixture and we aim to continue to be.

"But it doesn't come to you. You have to work hard and show your qualities. They are amazing games to be involved in. It is the first one of the season and it should be a real special game."

Celtic have won nine and drawn two of the 11 games they have played against Rangers under Rodgers. How they fare at the back against Alfredo Morelos and Kyle Lafferty will determine whether they can extend that unbeaten run and gain an important psychological edge over their age-old adversaries.