FREE SPIRIT SINCLAIR FLOURISHING AT PARKHEAD
Old pal Richards is sure Sinclair will show City what they are missing now that the winger is flourishing again under the watchful eye of Brendan Rodgers
MICAH RICHARDS hasn’t needed to ask Scott Sinclair how much he is enjoying life at Celtic — his former team-mate’s social media feed is providing a running commentary of goals and grins. The pair have shared the odd message since Sinclair left Aston Villa to join his old Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers at Parkhead but Richards has found the series of images displayed on his pal’s Twitter and Instagram timelines illuminating.
‘Since Scotty has gone there he has posted 15 pictures in six weeks — he wasn’t doing that before!’ laughs Richards as he settles into a sofa at Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training ground. ‘He just seems a lot happier. A bit freer.’
Richards also played alongside Sinclair at Manchester City and laughs when reminiscing that a summer performing for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics makes it a hat-trick of shared endeavours.
The former England defender admits it’s nice to see his pal looking happier than ever in his new environment, although there will be a temporary cessation in goodwill on Wednesday as Celtic face City in the Champions League.
Still a Sky Blues fan, Richards watched Sinclair struggle at the Etihad and fare little better when they were reunited at Villa Park just over a year ago, the season leading to the Birmingham club’s relegation from the Premier League.
Sinclair created a slice of history at Inverness last weekend, netting for a fifth successive Premiership game following his £3.5million transfer, the first player to do so since Celtic legend Jimmy McGrory 80 years ago. And he was on the mark again yesterday, converting a penalty in the 6-1 rout of Kilmarnock.
The winger has not mined such rich form since his days operating under Rodgers at Swansea and Richards believes it’s no coincidence a reunion with the Northern Irishman has coaxed him back towards peak form.
‘It doesn’t surprise me how well Scott is doing,’ says the Villa defender. ‘Last season was difficult in our circumstances here at Villa but he has gone up there and shown everyone why he is a quality player. It looks like he has found his happy home. He has a manager who loves him and he is doing well.
‘He has been with Brendan Rodgers before — when you have a manager who gives you that confidence and belief, you go out there and show how good you are.
‘And Celtic is a massive club, with amazing fans who turn out week-in, week-out. Why wouldn’t he go there?
‘A lot of people say Scottish football is not as good as English but when you are playing for a team like Celtic it’s an honour. Scott going there and doing well, it’s a perfect match.’
It’s just possible that Sinclair will seek to prove a point on Wednesday. An £8m Roberto Mancini purchase, Sinclair endured three lean years in Manchester but Richards insists there was no shame in his toil as he was up against the best player in the world for his favoured position.
‘No disrespect to Scotty but David Silva is a true world-class player — I’d put him in my world XI,’ says Richards. ‘At the time, David was playing left of a three and he rarely got injured.
‘Scotty is a tremendous player but when you are up against that, it’s going to be tough. And then when David wasn’t playing we had Samir Nasri, who was again a top player.
‘Scott was a bit unlucky. It wasn’t down to him not being good enough — had he arrived a couple of years previously he would probably have had a good run. When it doesn’t go well for you at a club you want to show them what they are missing but you can’t dwell on the past.
‘It’s how you overcome things when it goes wrong that makes you the player you are. Look at Kevin de Bruyne. He went to Chelsea, seemed no good and two years later he is at Manchester City and he is probably the outstanding player in the Premier League.
‘Scott now has a chance with Celtic. If he scores 20 or 30 goals this season, who knows what might happen — he might find there’s a queue of clubs in for him again.
‘When he was here, we were a really strong side on paper but, for whatever reason, it didn’t happen for us. As a new signing he had a bit of added pressure but now he can express himself in a team that will probably win every week. That’s massive for him.’ In Helen Flanagan, Sinclair has the support of a glamorous partner who once trod the cobblestones of Coronation Street and filled a slew of column inches in newspapers and lads’ magazines.
Yet, despite his celebrity link, the 27-year-old has actually come across as an unassuming fellow since moving to Glasgow, a description with which the more outgoing Richards instantly relates.
‘Because Scott’s girlfriend is in the limelight you think he would love it a bit more but actually he is quite a quiet lad,’ he continues. ‘He gets on with his work. He works hard and he is a genuinely nice guy.
‘He has not had it easy, he’s to go to places and not play, been in and out. He has played for 11 or 12 clubs, so going somewhere out of his comfort zone was never going to be a problem.
‘But now he has found his home and he deserves it. The boys here at Villa are definitely happy for him and long may it continue.’
The one obvious blip for Sinclair came on the opening night of the Champions League, when Celtic were routed by Barcelona in the Nou Camp.
City may not yet be the same slick proposition but, under Pep Guardiola, they have already developed a high tempo and killer instinct that could overwhelm Rodgers’ team on Wednesday.
‘Celtic are a good side and are always capable of pulling off something special, especially at home,’ added Richards. ‘I think that’s what they will be looking for, bringing teams to Glasgow, getting the crowd behind them and causing a few upsets.
‘But the way Pep has City playing it will be hard for them. The City of old would struggle in Champions League clashes but with the new manager they are going to make it a lot tougher.
‘But it’s a game of football and sometimes teams don’t always play to their full potential. Scott can hurt anyone on his day. He has good feet, he is quick and he can finish.
‘He makes very intelligent runs behind as well. He is perfect for the counter. I saw his opening goal for Celtic against Hearts which came from a corner, down the left. Scott had made the run through the middle and produced a great finish.
‘My only fear would be is will Celtic have enough of the ball? They are coming up against a City side that has just won six on the bounce.’
At 28, Richards is settled at Villa and, despite an up-and-down start to the Championship season, is determined to aid the club’s planned return to the top flight.
A shining defensive star in his youth, he earned 13 England caps before his career started to plateau.
Might he one day consider following Sinclair to Scotland?
‘Well, yeah, if Celtic or Rangers came in the future, they are massive clubs, aren’t they?
‘I don’t want to be disrespectful to Aston Villa. I’m here and see my future here. But, if later, something came up then for sure I would look at it.
‘Those two clubs stand out, two amazing clubs with great history. I don’t want to say who I prefer but they are both amazing clubs and I’m just glad it’s going well for Scott.’
Regardless, a trip north to visit Sinclair is on the agenda later this season but if Richards is to fulfil his desire to attend an Old Firm clash then he will need to choose between ticket sources.
‘Alan Hutton has been promising to take me to an Old Firm clash and I will be going up this season especially now Scotty’s there,’ he chuckles. ‘Hutts is on the Rangers side and Scotty is Celtic, so I will be split. Maybe I’ll wear a half-and-half scarf!’