Sinclair’s ‘back on form’ after hat-trick in Saints thrashing

CELTIC: Forward hails impact of loan signing Burke as Hoops prepare for Valencia visit

Scott Sinclair feels his confidence is soaring after scoring his second hat-trick of the season in Sunday’s emphatic 5-0 William Hill Scottish Cup win over St Johnstone.

The 29-year-old winger notched a triple against Aberdeen in the Ladbrokes Premiership clash at Pittodrie on Boxing Day when the Hoops ran out 4-3 winners.

Sinclair ensured Celtic eased into the cup quarter-finals with another impressive display of finishing against the Saints at Parkhead, starting in the third minute when he guided a shot past keeper Zander Clark from a tight angle.

After skipper Scott Brown thundered in a second from long range before the break, Sinclair tapped in an Oliver Burke pass and then pounced in the last minute for his 16th goal of the season and 11th in his last 11 games.

James Forrest netted Celtic’s fourth of the match.

“Yes, I’m back confident,” man-of-thematch Sinclair told Celtic TV.

“I’m scoring goals, obviously, and I feel like I am back on form.

“It is up to me to keep carrying on the form I’m in, to keep scoring goals and to keep playing as well as I can.

“It is always good to score goals and obviously to get another hat-trick is great but it was a great team performance.

“I think we played very well as a team and now it is about keeping going and winning.”

Sinclair praised striker Burke, on loan from West Brom, who set up two of the former Aston Villa attacker’s goals before he hobbled off with an ankle injury.

Brendan Rodgers is confident Burke will be fit for Thursday’s Europa League visit of Valencia.

“Ollie has been great since he came in,” said Sinclair.

“The way he played (against St Johnstone), he has his pace and power and obviously his assists.”

Captain Brown also lavished praise on 21-year-old Burke.

He said: “Ollie is by far the quickest I’ve played with.

“He knows nine times out of 10 he’s going to beat people for pace and Scotty was in the right place as well.

“People won’t keep a high line because of his pace.

“With our forwards, we have pace everywhere in Ollie, Scotty, James and Timothy (Weah).

“We have pace all over the park and it scares people more than anything.”

It’s up to me to keep carrying on the form I’m in, to keep scoring goals and to keep playing as well as I can. SCOTT SINCLAIR

Picture: PA. Celtic’s Scott Sinclair celebrates his third goal against St Johnstone on Sunday.