Celtic attacking midfielder Ryan Christie is hoping for a first-team breakthrough at Parkhead after his substitute appearance against Rangers last weekend.
The 23-year-old has spent the last eighteen months out on loan at Aberdeen where he was a key player, but he has remained on the periphery under Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers. In an interview with the club’s website, he said:
“To be honest, I was solely concentrating on Celtic and that’s all I have been doing since I came back from pre-season. I just wanted to see if I could break my way into the squad.”
“At the start of the season it was a bit difficult and I couldn’t really find my way in. The manager spoke to me and told me he sees I’ve got a part to play in the squad, so I needed to put my head down and keep working.”
Fans on Twitter are backing Christie to succeed:
looked good on Sunday when he came on once he gets a run in with the team I think he will be a star in the making ?
— CeItic Culture (@CelticCulture_) September 6, 2018
Grab your chance ?⚽️
— AlistairMcDiarmid (@Alimcdiarmid84) September 6, 2018
Great attitude, good luck wee man ?
— Tam Rogic Lifetime Contract CSC (@sellik88) September 6, 2018
I reckon he could play the same role Armstrong played , making runs from deep in behind the strikers , good on the ball , said if he works on his defensive side I don’t see why he couldn’t be armstrongs replacement
— Div McALpine (@DIVBHOY) September 6, 2018
Good lad , nice to see bit fight ??
— Dún Geimhin csc ⭐️ (@DunGeimhincsc) September 6, 2018
That’s the attitude to have lad ?? can see this boy impressing a lot of people!
— Jed Marr? (@jedmarr8892) September 6, 2018
Hes doing brilliantly he wsd excellent when he came on against suduva
— kate dunbar (@katedunbar61) September 5, 2018
Well done to Ryan, watching him at Aberdeen and was worried that he wasn’t going to cut it here but he’s been brilliant when he’s came in,a different footballing philosophy shows his real ability.
— Gary Murphy (@GaryMurphy18566) September 5, 2018
One supporter is backing him to replicate his form at Aberdeen:
Appreciate it’s a step up, but I hope Christie can really push Rogic for a place in the number 10/creative role, he was excellent when coming on Sunday… With 10 goals and 9 assists overall last season, there’s definitely a player there, just hope he can produce that for Celtic
— Kendo (@_Kendo_) September 5, 2018
The midfielder’s contract expires in the summer, and while he has shown what he can do while playing at the Dons, it seems he is still to convince Rodgers that he deserves the game time in order to get himself a new deal.
Christie is competing with Tom Rogic for a place in the starting lineup. The Australian international is a firm favourite at Celtic Park and has started the season in decent form with two goals in nine appearances so far.
