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Davie Hay has suggested that Celtic cut short Filip Benkovic's loan deal and send the defender back to Leicester City.

The defender is currently out injured but is expected to be back in contention for a place in March.

Benkovic recently spoke out about how he is looking forward to making an impact in England next season, dashing hopes that Celtic might be able to negotiate a second loan stint.

As quoted by The Scottish Sun, he said: "I want to make another step at the end of the season. I want to show that I can play in the English Premier League."

The 21-year-old hasn't played since being injured against Hamilton on January 26, with Hay now questioning the value of bringing him back for less than two months of action.

Looking on Benkovic's absence on Thursday night and the remainder of the season, Hay explained his thinking in the Evening Times:

"Another big miss has been Filip Benkovic too. I think the boy is a cracking centre-half, probably the most commanding central defender Celtic have had since Virgil van Dijk. But his remarks that he is definitely returning to the Premier League at the end of the season makes you think on a number of fronts.

"One is that Celtic are going to have a substantial job to do in the transfer market this summer with Dedryck Boyata also set to move on. It will need to be a busy summer but I just wonder too if there is any point in Benkovic hanging around now until the end of the season. He might be as well just going back to Leicester now."

Benkovic has been Celtic's best central defender this season with that area of the team causing Brendan Rodgers problems throughout.

When Dedryck Boyata made himself unavailable at the start of the season Jack Hendry was teamed up with Kris Ajer as Celtic lost out to AEK Athens in the Champions League qualifiers.