Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Sinclair pumped up ahead of Old Firm derby
SCOTT Sinclair insists he will thrive on the “hatred” he expects to experience when Celtic travel to face Rangers at Ibrox on Hogmanay.
The 27-year-old winger scored the only goal of the game against Partick Thistle on Tuesday night to take the Hoops 14 points clear of the Light Blues at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership.
Brendan Rodgers’ side extended their unbeaten domestic run to 21 games and face Hamilton away on Saturday and Ross County at home before the Old Firm derby, which the former Swansea City, Manchester City and Aston Villa player knows is the one which will most excite the Celtic fans.
Sinclair scored in the 5-1 home league win over Rangers in September and featured in the 1-0 Betfred Cup semi-final win over the same opponents at Hampden Park the following month. And the former Great Britain international is looking forward to a red-hot reception at Ibrox.
“It is great,” he said. “It is great for all footballers. The hatred, that all the fans don’t like you and all our fans are behind us.
“This is the whole point of being a footballer, that excitement and the atmosphere when you go to stadiums like that.
“It’s obviously the massive game. All the fans will be up for that one.
“I was on the bench but didn’t play in the Man United derby.
“I played home and away against Cardiff when I was at Swansea but it doesn’t compare to the Old Firm derbies up here, it doesn’t come close to Celtic-Rangers.
“It is so loud and hostile you can’t hear any of your team-mates. These games are such a big occasion.”