STUART’S GONEALL SHOWBIZ
Armstrong laughs off link with West Ham after US talk show host Corden’s tribute Tweet...
STUART Armstrong has laughed off the suggestion from comedian and US talk show host James Corden that he should leave Celtic for his beloved West Ham this summer. The 25-year-old midfielder, yesterday named Ladbrokes Player of the Month for March, will enter the final year of his contract this summer, with talks over a new deal yet to be resolved. While he admitted that the surprise intervention on social media by Corden, he shared a video montage of his best goals and implored the Hammers board to sign him, had been the subject of dressing room banter, he nonetheless spoke of his confidence that his contract negotiation at Celtic would take care of itself and he was already looking
forward to returning to the Champions League in the colours of the Parkhead side next season.
“Someone sent me it, yeah,” said Armstrong, who has 12 league goals and seven league assists to his name already.
“It’s just something you have got to laugh at, a bit of humour. It’s always nice to see these things. There was a little bit of humour from the boys about it.”
While Armstrong could earn more money down south in the Barclays Premier League, this is a player who only relatively recently employed the services of an agent.
“I tend not to dwell on things like that,” he said.
“I tend to focus on being here and being a Celtic player, which I am.
“As I said before, I am really happy and in a really fantastic place. I love playing week in, week out in my favourite position for a club like Celtic – and playing under Brendan Rodgers as well. I couldn’t be happier.
“One of the attractions of coming to Celtic was the European experiences,” he added.
“Playing in the Champions League this season was a dream come true, playing against the giants of Europe.
“The prospect of playing in that again is amazing. It’s something every player looks forward to because it is very special.
“I think what the manager is building here is a real, good quality team. You have seen the step up we have made already in only his first season.
“I think that can only get better. We’ll be pushing to get Champions League again but this time I think we’ll be looking to get further. I think things are only going up.
“It’s been a terrific season. When you glance back at the different stages of it – the League Cup, winning the league – and there’s still a big semi-final coming up.”
Armstrong’s break-out season came after a frustrating start to his Celtic career, when he often found himself playing wide left under Ronny Deila. “I don’t like to look to the past too much,” he said. “You can only live in the present. You never know, I could have played central midfield last season and been s**t.”