The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
New three-year deal for on-form Christie
CELTIC: Midfielder hails boss Rodgers for influence on his Parkhead career
Ryan Christie praised Brendan Rodgers for managing his Celtic career from loanee to a new three-year deal with the Parkhead club.
The 23-year-old attacking midfielder had a brief loan period at Inverness after joining the Hoops on a four-year deal from the Highland club in 2015 and then two loan spells at Aberdeen before returning to the Glasgow club in the summer.
Christie has begun to make his mark with the double-treble winners this season with three goals in the last five games coming before his new contract was confirmed yesterday afternoon.
He revealed that inherent confidence in his own ability along with advice from boss Rodgers, who took over from Ronny Deila in 2016, kept him from harbouring doubts about a career at Celtic.
“I never really let myself think like that,” he told Press Association Sport.
“And this was where the manager was really good for me. Any time I went out on loan he pulled me in and told me what I needed to work on and what to concentrate on.
“The main part obviously was game time but there were other aspects that I needed to improve as well.
“That time at Aberdeen put me in great stead and I am benefiting from that which is good.”
In his first loan spell at the Pittodrie club Christie had to sit out the 2017 William Hill Scottish Cup final against Celtic and he is keen to get on the trophy trail, ironically, against the Dons in the Betfred Cup final at Hampden Park in December.
He said: “Obviously it is a bit funny that the first cup final will be against Aberdeen.”