Coach delighted to see Christie become key Scotland player

Ryan Christie’s youthful confidence stood out to Dean Brill as he made his graduation from reserveteam prospect to first-team regular.

The Scotland playmaker’s back-story is one that has been well-versed during his emergence as a key player for club and country.

The son of a Caley Thistle player, manager and club stalwart Charlie, he emerged as an outstanding player under the guidance of John Hughes.

Christie proved doubters wrong at Celtic to become a mainstay of the side and is set for a pivotal role for Scotland under Steve Clarke when the Euro 2020 campaign begins today.

The 26-year-old has come a long way from affectionately being called “Nobby” as a teenager making his mark in the Highlands. Brill said: “I do remember young Nobby. I keep in touch with a few of them (from Inverness).

“It’s really good to see.

“He deserved it as he was a special talent. He’s a lovely boy as well, so I’m buzzing for him. It’s good to see him getting rewarded and it’s great for Inverness, as he’s gone on to another level.

“When I first went up, it was pre-season under Terry Butcher. I remember him doing really well, but after playing loads in pre-season, he didn’t really feature in the league under Terry.

“Yogi (John Hughes) came in and he wanted to play a style that suited

Ryan, because he was slight and small. Yogi’s style gave him freedom to be a bit mavericky. He started a few games and slotted in.”

Christie is one of a number of potential attacking options for Clarke, as he plots ways past Czech Republic, England and Croatia.

It was his goal, of course, that set Scotland on the way to qualification in the play-off final against Serbia.

“He always had a great mentality. In training he was never scared, he was always confident,” added Brill.

“He was a lovely lad at heart. He’s taken it in his stride. With his dad being a footballer, that was probably a big thing for him growing up, but he’s now gone on to another level and created that history for himself.”

Christie is not the only member of Clarke’s squad to have crossed Brill’s path. David Turnbull was a youngster at Motherwell when the new Tottenham academy coach had a brief spell at Fir Park.

Both now share the same dressing room at club level with Celtic, with Turnbull following Christie into the Scotland squad with his debut against Netherlands.

Brill added: “It’s the same with David at Motherwell. You could see he had that mentality.

“It’s not arrogance, it’s confidence. They exude it in any situation, no matter what the situation is.”