Celtic are looking into a loan deal for Leicester City's new £13million Croatian central defender Filip Benkovic, with Dedryck Boyata still expected to leave the club before Friday's transfer deadline.

Brendan Rodgers praised his want-away defender for responding to the boos of Celtic supporters with a match-winning goal against Hamilton on Sunday.

Accused of downing tools after the Parkhead club refused to sell him to Fulham for £9m, the Belgian defender is expected to depart if Celtic can secure a replacement.

Dedryck Boyata scored the winner against Hamilton but is expected to leave Celtic

And Sportsmail understands that Benkovic, yet to make a first-team appearance since signing for Leicester on English deadline day earlier this month, has joined Aberdeen's Scott McKenna and Le Havre's Harold Moukoudi on a list of potential reinforcements.

After an initial bid of £3.5m was rejected by the Dons, Celtic could yet make a fresh offer for McKenna.

'It is a position we'll definitely be looking at,' said Rodgers after a 1-0 win over Accies. 'It's an area that, with the likes of Jack Hendry and Jozo Simunovic injured, we will be looking at.'

Restored to the starting line-up after missing games against Hearts, AEK Athens, Partick Thistle and Suduva, Boyata was booed by Celtic fans before kick-off, with the Green Brigade ultras holding aloft a banner which read: 'Boyata - not fit to wear the jersey'.

Praising the under-fire defender for doing his talking on the pitch after other fans tried to drown out the boos with cheers, however, Rodgers said: 'Obviously, I would have preferred a different reaction, but I'm not going to criticise the supporters.

Filip Benkovic has been lined up as a replacement for the Belgian if he departs

'I will give credit to Dedryck and how he coped with it and I think you saw the reaction from three-quarters of the stadium.

'When you try to redeem yourself, it sometimes takes a bit of time with these things. Naturally, supporters - and the passionate supporters - look for that commitment in a player.

'It's not always about ability, it's about commitment when they pull on the shirt.

'I always knew if Dedryck put on the shirt, he'd be first-class. The reaction of three-quarters of the stadium plus his team-mates, I think you saw we're all together.

'You do your talking on your pitch.' Having previously declared himself physically and mentally unfit for action, Boyata produced a fine performance under trying circumstances after a shock recall to the starting XI.

'It was a pretty easy decision because we've been waiting for him,' added Rodgers. 'Like he showed, he cruised the game because he is a top-class player.

'We are not a squad which can do without a player of that quality. He made his commitment to the team and was there for his team-mates.

He was first-class and it was ironic that he got the goal. Everything he did was superb and it was great to have him back in there.

'It's not been an easy time for us all in relation to that matter. But when we came back from Lithuania, we had a couple of days when we spoke a lot.

'We knew it was a watershed moment and we had to go one of two ways. The players and staff all came out of it knowing which direction we wanted to go in.

'Everyone is very focused on having another great season.

Brendan Rodgers admitted central defence is a position he will definitely be looking at

'It was great for him to score. He is an outstanding footballer and it was good to have him out there with his team-mates.' Asked if he still expects to have Boyata around after Friday's deadline, Rodgers shrugged: 'I'm not thinking anything other than that. He's in his last year of his contract and you never know how the game works.

'But, like I said to him, however long you are here - whether it's a week or the rest of the season - your best place is on the training field and out on the pitch on a match-day.

'So we want him there. He's been a big part of what we have done for the last couple of years. I respect that a football career is short and you have to maximise your playing time.

'We will see what happens this week but I'm not planning for anything other than Dedryck being here.'