WE’VE NO NEED TO WORRY
Christie sure new Bhoys can shine in heat of Ibrox
FIRST they coped admirably with the intense pressure of revitalising the Celtic midfield in a time of great crisis. Now Ismaila Soro and David Turnbull have been backed to handle the heat of an Old Firm clash at Ibrox and the challenge of helping breathe life into the title race.
An energetic revelation in the centre of the park, Soro signed off for the New Year derby by scoring his first- ever goal for Celtic in Wednesday’s 3-0 home win over Dundee United.
The exceptional Turnbull continued his own personal purple patch, the former Motherwell starlet notching his fourth goal in his last six games.
Neil Lennon may, of course, prefer the experience of his veteran 35- year- old captain Scott Brown for the trip behind enemy lines in Govan.
But Celtic attacker Ryan Christie has backed Soro and Turnbull to thrive if selected for their first taste of Old Firm action against Steven Gerrard’s Rangers, who are 16 points clear having played three games more than their city rivals.
Asked if the pair are ready for a game of this magnitude, Christie said: ‘Absolutely, I don’t see why not. The form they’re carrying into this game, they could not be in a better place. They are full of confidence, the pair of them.
‘Obviously David got a goal against Dundee United and he has been scoring regularly lately.
‘And I was pleased to see Ismaila get his first goal for the club, absolutely.
‘A few of the boys were asking if the ( Dundee United) goalie ( Benjamin Siegrist) is his best friend!
‘But, to be fair, he caught it well. It sat up nicely for him to come off the side of the boot and it was always curling away from the goalkeeper.
‘It was a great strike and when teams come in and sit deep against you, you need sometimes to have shots from range — and it’s even better when they fly in like that.
‘I would have been proud of that goal myself. But my shots these days just fly into the stands, so I’ll leave the shooting to Ismaila.
‘But, for David and Ismaila, there is no better form to be in going into such a big game like this one on January 2.’
In addition to the increased threat from midfield, Celtic are generally looking a far more dangerous team these days.
So often a thorn in the side of Rangers, Odsonne Edouard chose Wednesday against Dundee United to notch a t i mely f i r st goal from open play since August.
Leigh Griffiths may not have netted against Mi c k y Mellon’s side, but he has scored in three of his last four matches and he set up Edouard’s goal against United. It was Griffiths’ partnership with the Frenchman over the second half of last season that lit the path to Celtic reaching nine in a row. Celtic will be hoping for a similar success story this season now the strike duo are back in the old routine. Lennon may even remind Griffiths of his words i n the f i nal g a me before the pandemic halted last season in March. Standing with the match ball after a 5- 0 home win over St Mirren, the Scotland international pleaded with his boss to play him against Rangers, declaring: ‘I was born to play at Ibrox. I’ve never been beaten there with Celtic. I’ve started there twice and scored twice with two wins.’
Given the Scotland striker subsequently reported back out of condition for pre-season training, and was left behind for a tour of France, his manager will feel he is owed a big performance at Ibrox f r om Griffiths in r eturn f or continually standing by him.
But whomever Lennon chooses f or his biggest match of the season, Christie (left) believes it’s clear Celtic have found their feet and their form after a dismal run of two wins in 12 matches as they are now unbeaten in their last seven.
He said: ‘We were frustrated by the indifferent form, but after that we have come through it and now we look back to our best again.
‘When we went through that run, that dip in form, we knew it was only going to take a slight turn, a wee buzz, and we would be back at it — as long as we kept to what we know and as long as we kept working hard.
‘We have done that, we are out of the other side of it and now we want to kick on.’
On Wednesday, Rangers beat St Mirren 2-0 in Paisley to win their 13th straight Premiership game.
After 21 games of the Invincibles 2016-17 season under Brendan Rodgers, Celtic had 61 points and a goal difference of +41.
Rangers this season have two points fewer than the Invincibles but a better goal difference of +51.
‘We are in a good run of form right now, as are they (Rangers),’ said Christie. ‘When we were at the top and so successful the last couple of seasons, we expected everyone to push us and try to get closer to our level. But our squad has done very well over the last few games.
‘We are scoring goals and we are keeping clean sheets. We are in a good run going into this game.
‘It is a bit of a one-off game, so we have to put everything else aside and come out the better team at the end of it and take away the three points. Then we can go into the rest of the New Year and give it a right go.’