Celtic can be a magnet for star players, says Sinclair
Sinclair insists that manager’s success with Celtic will lure players from England
SCOTT SINCLAIR believes Brendan Rodgers’ signing of a new four-year contract will attract more quality players to Celtic this summer. Sinclair, who broke the deadlock in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Kilmarnock, was signed for £3.5million by the Parkhead club after becoming disenchanted with the game in England. And the 28-year-old, who has set the Scottish game alight since his arrival from Aston Villa last August, believes other players feeling unsatisfied with their roles at English clubs will now follow suit after hearing Rodgers is staying for the foreseeable future. ‘It’s great that the manager has secured his future,’ said the winger. ‘It puts stability into the club. ‘I think it will attract a lot of players. Especially coming from down south, looking up here and seeing the way we play, the style we play and how we win games.’
SCOTT SINCLAIR could be considered the very embodiment of the Brendan Rodgers effect. Refocused and revitalised by his manager’s faith, he had cause for personal celebration when Celtic’s manager committed to the club for four more years.
More than that, however, Sinclair argues that the Northern Irishman’s contract extension is also the perfect advert for the Parkhead club. One that will prove more effective than any marketing wizardry come this summer’s transfer window.
The free-scoring winger believes other players feeling unsatisfied by their roles at English employers — as he once was — will be looking towards Celtic.
They will see how Rodgers has turned around individuals to create a collective that now stands just eight games away from a Treble-winning season as Invincibles.
For those potential transfer targets, knowing they would be signing for a manager under contract until 2021 makes the road towards Glasgow all the more appealing.
‘It’s great that the manager has secured his future,’ said Sinclair. ‘It puts stability into the club.
‘I think it will attract a lot of other players. Especially those coming from down south and looking up here.
‘You can see the way we play, the style we play and how we win games. I think it will be great for other players when they look at us.
‘I haven’t spoken to anyone personally about coming here but when you do bump into people, they know how well we have been doing as a team.’
Sinclair’s own progress provides a powerful example for anyone considering Parkhead as their next career stop.
The £3.5million spent on bringing the 28-year-old north from Aston Villa is the biggest investment of the Rodgers era to date and a deal of undisputed value.
Sinclair scored his 23rd goal of a season that should deliver individual awards and helped Celtic record victory over Kilmarnock. With five in his last three games, he is on the most concentrated scoring sequence of his entire campaign.
‘The manager’s announcement is great for me — but not just me, it’s great for the whole squad,’ he added.
‘Some of the players haven’t really been talked about before but everyone has raised their game. We’re all being talked about now, with people recognising how good we are as a team and the style in which we are winning.
‘For me, the main thing he (Rodgers) has done is got me back playing and enjoying it again. He has given me the confidence that you can see on the pitch.’
Being linked with a return to English football is an inevitable consequence of Rodgers’ success in Glasgow.
Celtic have, however, firmly protected their financial position through the contract extension. And Sinclair sees a man exuding happiness in his current environment.
‘With the way we are playing, there is no surprise at all that there will be talk of other teams coming in for him,’ admitted Sinclair. ‘The manager loves this club. He supported them as a kid and he always tells us about that.
‘He also enjoys progressing players. He said that was what he enjoyed most, getting players playing again and raising their game.’ Sinclair is reluctant to speak of securing an historic, unblemished season. One game at a time remains the Rodgers-led mantra.
Other landmarks are also in sight. Sinclair is five goals away from setting a new personal best for a single campaign. Collectively, Celtic would require to score 15 times in their final six Premiership outings to make it 100 league goals.
‘To be honest, it was enough for me to come here and get the love of the game back,’ said the winger.
‘If I can keep improving and scoring and giving assists every time I’m on the pitch, then I’m happy. I don’t set off with a target other than to do as well as I can.
‘I got 27 goals once at Swansea — the year I finished the season off with a hat-trick in the play-off final.
‘Getting to that is not impossible and if I can reach that stage, then great. For the position I play, that sort of return is not too bad.
‘Is 100 league goals possible? Yeah, I think so if we keep creating the chances. We have the players to score. Stuart (Armstrong) has added to his tally from midfield, so we have a lot of goals in there.’
Armstrong claimed his 14th of the season to break through Kilmarnock’s 5-4-1 system and give Celtic a 23rd-minute lead. His low, angled right-foot strike from 22 yards came through a crowd of players, with Freddie Woodman unable to stretch out a hand in time. The Rugby Park side generated hope of an unlikely point after 65 minutes by equalising with their first meaningful shot on target. Jordan Jones led a counter-attack to net a deflected finish after receiving the ball back from Conor Sammon. Parity didn’t last long. Six minutes later, a deep free-kick from Armstrong was headed back across goal by Dedryck Boyata. Patrick Roberts clipped it into the centre and Sinclair scored from close range. That was the cue for Rodgers to introduce Moussa Dembele and Tom Rogic as they continued their respective returns from injury. Dembele promptly looped a deflected shot against a post, with James Forrest heading home the rebound to confirm a 29th Premiership win. Having Dembele and Rogic available strengthens Celtic’s armoury as they build towards the Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers on April 23. ‘It’s great that everyone is back because it gives the manager a choice,’ added Sinclair. ‘Everyone is trying to get back 100 per cent for the Rangers game. ‘Even if you were out with a hamstring injury, then you’d be wanting back! Hopefully, everyone can stay fit.’