Celtic F.C., under Brendan Rodgers, have achieved epitome of success in domestic competitions and likely to wrap up another ‘treble’ similar to the previous term. Scottish football has an esteemed heritage but lost the essence in recent years due to lack of quality as well as title-challenge. The downfall of Rangers made them uncontested champions who are now on course of clinching their seventh consecutive Premiership title.
But the Hoops do not have the luxury of spending millions in the transfer window and the budget constraint has transformed them into mere European minnows from the once-hailed heavyweights.
Brendan Rodgers, the ex-Liverpool gaffer, thus is banking on potential youths and promoting them to experience senior football. They are the backbone of the current Celtic squad and the collective effort has led the Bhoys to achieve utmost success in Scotland. Ryan Christie, the Scottish international, is one such name who has not been in the manager’s plan last season. However, successive loan spells helped him to draw the attention and the player is now set to be offered a new term to resurrect his Celtic career.
Christie, the 23-year-old former Inverness Caledonian Thistle academy graduate, joined the Hoops in summer 2015 and was immediately sent back on loan to Inverness for the entire season. An unfortunate knee injury, however, cut short his spell and the midfielder returned to Parkhead three months later. Despite impressing in limited game-time, neither ex-boss Ronny Della nor his successor Brendan Rodgers assured Christie regular minutes which eventually led to a loan move to big boys Aberdeen during last season’s winter transfer window.
There he had a scintillating run and the Dons managed to loan him in for the 2017-18 season. The youngster, meanwhile, is continuing to impress and earned his first senior international call-up in November and featured against the Netherlands in a 1-0 friendly defeat.
Christie has again been called up for the international formalities against Hungary and Costa Rica as he has done enough to convince Alex McLeish and Brendan Rodgers. Although his current deal at Celtic will run out next year, the youngster has been offered a one-year extension to break into the Hoops side and replicate his Aberdeen form.
“I’m glad and I know they will be keeping an eye on me week-in, week out, so I need to make sure I’m playing as well as I can.“Hopefully after the summer when I go back I will have a confidence now after a full season of games, knowing that I can hopefully go in and fit into that Celtic squad.”
Stated the player when asked about his future beyond this season.
The midfielder prefers to operate in a wide midfield role, mostly down the right flank, but also fits in an attacking midfield slot. Celtic have multiple midfield options but Tom Rogic and Callum McGregor – only a couple of them offer creativity in a little-advanced role. Christie will add up versatility in their attack and his movements around the box will trouble the opponents. The next season, thus, will be a make-or-break one for the Scotsman if he dreams to secure a long-term Celtic future who are gearing up for greater glory under Brendan Rodgers.
