ARMSTRONG’S IN ON THE ACT
Parkhead star seeks big role in Treble
Stuart armstrong last night declared he is over his injury nightmare and ready to play a key role as Celtic chase a second successive treble.
the 25-year-old midfielder went under the knife in Germany in January to cure a long-running hernia issue.
He made his return with a four-minute cameo in the 3-2 win against rangers at Ibrox earlier this month and then played the last half-hour of a 0-0 draw at Motherwell.
armstrong continued his comeback with a strong display in the final 32 minutes of Scotland’s 1-0 loss to Costa rica at Hampden last week.
and he now feels ready to play his part in the upcoming matches for club and country, including tonight’s Scotland friendly against Hungary in Budapest and next month’s Old Firm Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden.
‘I’m fit again,’ said armstrong. ‘I’m definitely feeling much better physically than I did back in December. I’m feeling more like myself again and I’m really looking forward to being involved in the big games between now and the end of the season.
‘It was difficult because it (my hernia) had been bothering me for a fair length of time and it wasn’t something I could keep putting off. there’s no doubt that it was beginning to affect me.
‘I’m just glad that I was able to finally get it sorted, even though it did take a little longer for me to recover from the surgery than I would have liked.
‘But I am back now and ready to go again. I’m just happy to be stripped again for action.’
armstrong signed a new two-year deal last august to keep him at Celtic Park until the summer of 2019.
that means he is free to speak to any interested parties as of next January, with English clubs including Southampton known to have been tracking his progress in the past.
But the former Dundee united man declined to comment on his longer-term future.
‘I’m not going to talk about that just now,’ he said.
armstrong was delighted to make his first appearance under new Scotland boss alex McLeish last week and win his fifth cap for his country.
He is aiming for a sixth tonight and insists there was a lot to be optimistic about, even in narrow defeat to a Costa rican side who are heading to the World Cup finals in russia this summer.
‘there was improvement after the break against Costa rica but there were positives to take from both halves,’ he claimed.
‘We had new faces and people winning their first caps and it always takes a bit of time to bed in.
‘But I feel there was certainly enough there to give us encouragement going forward.
‘We’ve got to be confident because we have a really talented group.
‘It’s all about blending everyone together and becoming stronger as a unit with each passing game.
‘It was a friendly, after all, and that’s when you try different things and have a go with alternative formations.
‘We had four players making their debut in the starting XI and five in total, so it was an excellent experience for them.’
Meanwhile, Celtic have confirmed they will honour captain Scott Brown for his ten years of service with an end-of-season testimonial against the republic of Ireland.
Former Parkhead boss Martin O’Neill, assisted by roy Keane, will take his national team to Glasgow for the game with Brendan rodgers’ side on Sunday, May 20, just 24 hours after the Scottish Cup Final.
Some of the proceeds will go to charities chosen by Brown and to the family of the late Celtic star Liam Miller, who lost his battle with cancer last month at the age of 36.
Brown joined Celtic from Hibs for £4.4million in 2007 and has since won seven Scottish titles, three Scottish Cups and four League Cups.
Celtic boss rodgers said: ‘Scott is a hugely important figure and someone who I’ve been privileged to work with.
‘With a tremendous will to succeed in everything he does, he is someone we know we can depend on, someone you want in your team and a man who has been the most influential player in Scottish football for some time.’