CHRISTIE’S QUALITY CHANGED CONTEST, ADMITS WILLIAMS

PERFORMING on the biggest stage available is the surest way for any young player to justify a burgeoning reputation. Step forward Ryan Christie at Celtic Park. Surprisingly started on the bench by John Hughes, the 20-year-old finally appeared with his side already three goals down. It could have been a deflating circumstance, but Christie instead attacked the opportunity with real vigour and class. He was a transformative influence, scoring one and creating the other in an eventual 4-2 defeat that regained some collective pride. Swansea and Fulham are among the clubs eyeing the Scotland Under-21 forward with admiration. In truth, it seems only a matter of time before Caley Thistle are made an offer they can’t refuse for one of the Premiership’s most promising talents. ‘Ryan was quality when he came on,’ admitted team-mate Danny Williams. ‘I thought he changed the game. ‘You could see how well he took his goal and then he sets up the other one. ‘We see how good he is in training every day. I don’t know what’s going to happen with him in the future but he is certainly a quality player. ‘Nat Wedderburn and Dani Lopez also had a big impact as subs. When all of them came on, we got a better hold in the game and started passing the ball more. ‘Like the gaffer said before the game, you can’t come here and be a shrinking violet. This is a stage and everyone wants to go on and perform, and Ryan did that.’ Christie’s input helped Inverness head back up the A9 in better spirits than might reasonably have been expected in the 69th minute, when Stuart Armstrong completed a personal double to put Celtic 4-0 up. The tone had been set much earlier as Mikael Lustig and Leigh Griffiths netted all-too-simple goals in the opening 11 minutes. ‘We killed ourselves a bit at the beginning,’ Williams recognised. ‘When you come here, you have to make them work for their goals. ‘But we gave them a couple of goals with a set-piece and a header at the back stick.’

MARK WILSON