Celtic have made an impressive start to their domestic campaign this season. The Hoops had to part ways with a lot of players in the summer, but they did enough in the transfer window to add more depth and increase competition for places within Neil Lennon’s squad. One area where the Hoops are well covered is in midfield. Even though Tom Rogic missed the first two months of the season due to injury, Celtic have done well, and Ryan Christie has played the role of an attacking midfielder quite well.
Christie’s future at Parkhead was in doubt at the beginning of last season. Many assumed that he didn’t have what it takes to be successful at the top level. However, Rodgers gave him a fair go in the first team, and Christie grabbed his opportunity with both hands as he put in some influential displays for his side.
He finished the last campaign with 11 goals and nine assists to his name, and he managed to establish himself as a first-team starter at Celtic Park. The versatile attacker is already close to bettering his goal tally from last season as he has nine goals to his name in 16 appearances so far this term.
Allan Hutton on Christie’s future
Former Scotland international Alan Hutton meanwhile believes that Christie is good enough to move to the Premier League in the future. Talking to Football Insider, Hutton said, ”I think he can (Move to the Premier League), I don’t see why not.”
”If he keeps going the way he’s going at the moment and produces performances as he is doing, of course, he can. I do believe to really test yourself it would be to come down south and have a crack at that. I can imagine, at the back of his mind, he’d like to have a go at it at some point.”
There is no doubt that his impressive form will drive attention towards him from down south at some point. The attacking midfielder is currently contracted to stay at Parkhead until 2022. His versatility to play on the flanks will also be a significant plus for prospective buyers.
Tough for Celtic to ward off Premier League interest
Christie is known to be a boyhood Celtic fan, but we have already seen that interest from English clubs can turn any Premiership player’s head after we saw Kieran Tierney depart for Arsenal this summer. Hutton is right that Christie might want to test himself against some of the top players and in one of the top leagues in the future. His energy, ability to pick out a decisive pass and finishing instincts would make him a contender to move to the Premier League at some point in the future.
