Bain joy as he signs a four-year Celts deal
SCOTT BAIN insists he’s got the big-game mentality to become Celtic No.1 after penning a permanent contract at Parkhead.
The keeper last night signed a four-year deal after impressing since January’s loan move from Dundee.
Bain, 26, was snapped up as back-up when Craig Gordon was crocked but shone when launched in
at the deep end on his debut in the 3-2 win against Rangers at Ibrox following injury to regular stand-in Dorus de Vries.
Bain immediately convinced Brendan Rodgers he could crack it at Celts and persuaded the Hoops boss to make the move long term.
The former Aberdeen and Falkirk shot-stopper – who has three clean sheets in six appearances – is thrilled to secure his future with the champions after the Gers win proved he could cut it.
Bain said: “That game showed the manager everything he needed to know. He said it’s one of the biggest games to play and it really showed him my mentality and that I could handle being a Celtic player.
“There are no small games and no easy games here. Everyone ups their game to play Celtic and you need to be on it 100 per cent of the time.
“I’ve settled in well with all the boys, they’ve made it really easy. It’s a great changing room to be in and a great club to be at.
“You know Celtic’s a big club but it’s not until you’re here you fully realise the magnitude of it all and how many people have their eye on you.”
Bain jumped at the chance to sign a deal and is determined to continue his development at Celtic.
The Scotland squad man said: “I’m delighted. It’s more than I expected when I first came in. I don’t think it could have gone any better.
“A lot of little things went my way to get to Celtic on loan and then to play the game against Rangers that sent me on my way to this four-year deal.
“It has been great and I’ve loved every minute. I’ve had the same aims since I arrived, to improve as much as I can on a daily basis.
“I have all the facilities here, the manager, the staff, the goalkeeping coaches such as Steve Woods, to reach my full potential. The sky is really the limit. It’s about working hard and putting my all into this club.”
Rodgers insists he has no fears in plunging rusty Gordon straight back into a double Treble showdown at Hampden.
The keeper, 35, has missed Celtic’s last two games against Hearts and Kilmarnock with a knee injury. It’s also likely to keep him out of Sunday’s trophy day against Aberdeen at Parkhead.
That could mean three weeks of top-team inactivity before the May 19 Scottish Cup Final against Motherwell.
But Rodgers said: “He can do it. In the big games, he has performed great.
“It’s just going to be about fitness. Hopefully, he’s okay but if he’s not then we have a very capable guy in Scott, who has come in and been great since the first day he walked through the door.”
Rodgers also says Leigh Griffiths should be back for the Dons clash and added: “He’ll be back in training before the weekend.”
Meanwhile, Eddie Howe has refused to rule out a summer attempt to sign Kieran Tierney.
The Bournemouth boss is among a host of suitors south of the border interested in the Hoops’ outstanding left-back.
Quizzed about it on Sky Sports he said: “Come on.”
But Howe added: “We’ve got a good knowledge of what potentially could be out there. Of course, getting them over the line, getting them to want to come here is the difficult part.”