Driven Celt Christie hoping to cook up storm

Former Caley Thistle midfielder Ryan Christie has more than a place in the next round of the Scottish Cup at stake when Celtic face Albion Rovers tomorrow. The 21-year-old shares a flat with Calum Ferguson who scored a late winner for the League 1 side to knock Queen of the South out of the competition and set up a lucrative fourth-round tie against the Premiership leaders at Airdrie’s ground. Christie has agreed a deal with Ferguson, who he played with when both were at Inverness. He said: “When he scored the winner to book the place against us it was all a bit too good to be true. “It will be very strange. There hasn’t been much talk about it in the flat, the cards have been kept close to the chest. “The deal is if one of us scores, the other is making a three-course meal so I’m looking forward to that. “But if I am the one that scores it might be a trip to a restaurant instead of him cooking.” Christie was in the Celtic side beaten 1-0 by part-time Lincoln Red Imps in a Champions League qualifier in July. It was Brendan Rodgers’ first game as manager after taking over from Ronny Deila, but the Scottish champions recovered in the second leg at Parkhead with a 3-0 win before eventually reaching the group stages. Christie is confident the Gibraltar shock was a one-off under the former Swansea and Liverpool manager, whose side are unbeaten domestically with the Betfred Cup already won. He said: “It was a long time ago and our very first game under a new manager. “It is fair to say we are a very different team now than back then. “It was a very frustrating game and our heads were down, but thankfully we put it right in the second leg. “It was very early days in the season but we have gelled as a group and come along since then so it certainly won’t be in our heads. “But, in the same way, there is a big gulf between the teams so we have to make sure we are completely at it. “We have to treat it as a normal game. We have had a great attitude in every game, we will prepare as we do every week. “We have come up against Barcelona and Man City this season and people think it is hard in these games, but we have to treat these games the same, that’s the way we become successful.” Christie, who won the Scottish Cup with Inverness in 2015, has been on the fringes since making his debut a year ago but insists he is ready to stake a claim for a regular first-team place at Parkhead. He said: “I need to keep patient. This is the time for me to shine and hopefully make an impression. “I certainly knew I would have to work to get into the first team and I still have that approach. “I feel I am ready to step in and make a real impact.”

“Deal is if one of us scores, the other is making a meal”

Cup dreams: For Ryan Christie, who is up against his flatmate, Albion Rovers’ Calum Ferguson, tomorrow