STU REVEALS TALKS OVER CELTIC DEAL

In-form Celtic star is optimistic over extending stay in Paradise

STUART Armstrong could be the latest Celtic player to tie up his long-term future to the Parkhead club.

The in-form midfielder last night confirmed that negotiations are well underway to extend his current Parkhead deal.

Armstrong has 18 months left on his contract but Celtic will look to ensure the player, who will turn 25 tomorrow, is secured beyond that.

“The club and my representatives are in negotiations and things seem to be going well,” said Armstrong, who made his senior Scotland debut on Sunday night in the 1-0 win

over Slovenia. It has been a very good season and Brendan Rodgers has been great for me.

“He has come in and allowed me to play central midfield which has really developed my game so I’m in a good place at the moment and I just want to enjoy it.

“It was a long-held ambition of mine to play international football so it was a rewarding experience to do that on Sunday at Hampden.

“As I say, it is nice to be where I am at the minute but I know that the main thing for me is to focus on the football.”

Armstrong has become pivotal to the way that Rodgers has set Celtic up and the midfielder is eager to help the Parkhead side wrap up their sixth consecutive title this weekend.

The Hoops could claim the accolade without breaking sweat should Dundee beat Aberdeen at Dens Park on Friday night, but the player’s preference is to do it at Tynecastle when Celtic play Hearts on Sunday.

“The only thing we can control is what we do ourselves,” he said. “We like to focus on what we do as a team and make sure that we go out and win three points.

“Obviously anything could happen at Dens Park and if it transpires that way then so be it, but our preparations will not be affected by that.

“We will go to Tynecastle expecting a difficult 90 minutes and hopefully we will come away with the three points, because that is what we look to do in every game. It will be no different from us regardless of what goes on elsewhere.”

Whenever Celtic do cross the line, Armstrong will take some satisfaction in the role he has played in getting them there.

Having forced his way into the team, the former Tannadice player has chipped in with 12 goals as well as an aggressive style of play and that fits into the way that Rodgers sets out his stall.

However, the change from being a fringe player to one of the first names on the team-sheet isn’t one that has caused him to reflect too much.

“I don’t like to over-think things now,” he said, offering another hint of Rodgers’ influence.

“When I was younger and hadn’t had so much exposure to high-profile games I think I probably used to dwell on certain aspects of my own game.

“My real concern always has to be on what I bring to the team and how I influence the way we play from my position. That is the only thing that I try to focus on.

“It is nice to be in the position that I am at the moment, but I don’t think it is one that I would ever take for granted.

“There are a number of good players at Celtic and I just want to ensure that I continue to make a strong contribution.”