Sweden boss Graham Potter and striker Viktor Gyokeres have heaped praise on Celtic’s Benjamin Nygren.
The Celtic midfielder started alongside £63 million Gyokeres and £55 million Anthony Elanga in Potter’s front-three in their win over Ukraine on Thursday.
It takes them into a deciding play-off final against Poland for a place in Group B alongside Switzerland, Canada and Qatar at this summer’s World Cup.
Nygren set up Gyokeres’ opener with a fine cross; the Arsenal striker went onto bag a hat-trick.
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Benjamin Nygren of Celtic celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Celtic FC and VfB Stuttgart, Benjamin Nygren in action for Celtic against Sturm Graz
Credit: Getty Images/Charlie Crowhurst – UEFA/ ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP
Viktor Gyokeres and Graham Potter on Celtic’s ‘great player’ Benjamin Nygren
Speaking after the win, Gyokeres said: “I’ve played with Benji a lot before in the under-21 national team.
“I know him well and he’s done extremely well at Celtic. He’s a great player.
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Celtic midfielder Benjamin Nygren in action for Sweden against Ukraine in their FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs
Photo by Lukasz Germaniuk/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
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“He’s good with the ball and finds good passes. He can also do well inside the box himself.”
Gyokeres has 16 goals for Premier League leaders Arsenal this season after his big-money switch from Sporting CP in the summer.
National team boss Potter also said on Nygren: “I’ve been impressed with Benji since I met him. He’s an intelligent player and a very good guy.
“He’s a team player. He understands what we’re trying to do. He’s a super important player for us,” he added.
Potter was tipped for the Celtic job by Johan Mjallby prior to extending his initially short-term contract with Sweden until 2030.
The 50-year-old started his managerial career in Sweden, taking Ostersunds FK from the fourth tier to the top-flight and Europa League knockout stages.
He became available after his dismissal from West Ham in September, lasting just nine months in the hotseat at the London Stadium.
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Benjamin Nygren’s stellar season for Celtic
Nygren has more goals since the turn of the year than any other Celtic player has in the season’s entirety.
His trustworthy availability has seen him recently overtake Callum McGregor as the man with the Hoops’ most appearances this season. To imagine where Celtic would be without him is daunting to say the least.
In the Scottish Premiership as a whole, Nygren’s minutes-per-goal rate of 124 is the best in the division, marginally ahead of Tawanda Maswanhise – all without taking a single penalty.
He has now equalled Matt O’Riley’s goal total from his own POTY-winning season two years ago, after which he moved to Brighton for a fee rising to £30 million.
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