PUSHED ASIDE
Sinclair considers Celtic future after being frozen out
SCOTT SINCLAIR admits he may have to quit Celtic in January in order to relaunch his career.
The winger had his first start of the season on Thursday night as a shadow squad played out the final Europa League group stage fixture in Cluj.
Despite not featuring at all since making a late appearance from the bench in a 1-1 draw at Hibernian in September, the 30-year-old completed the 90 minutes and insists he is in better physical condition than ever. Increasingly frustrated at his lack of playing time after being ‘pushed to the side’ under Neil Lennon, Sinclair admits the time is approaching to consider his options.
Asked whether next month’s transfer window might offer a fresh start, he said: ‘Yeah, that’s it. I just want to play, everyone who knows me is
aware of that. I haven’t really spoken to the manager about leaving. If it was my choice, I would love to stay and fight for a position.
‘But this has been tough. I want to play football. I want to enjoy my football again.’
English Championship outfit Preston North End, managed by Scot Alex Neil, retain a long-term interest in Sinclair but would have trouble matching the player’s wages which are among the highest on the Parkhead payroll.
Signed from Aston Villa by Brendan Rodgers in a £3.5million deal in 2016, Sinclair made an instant impression, scoring 25 goals and sweeping the boards of player-of-the-year awards as Celtic completed an unbeaten domestic Treble.
Although his second and third seasons were not as spectacular, he still managed to accrue goal tallies of 18 and 17, while picking up another six medals.
Things took a turn for the worse after Rodgers left for Leicester City midway through last season and Sinclair started to feature less regularly.
When naming his starting line-up for the Scottish Cup final in May, Lennon gave the nod to youngster Mikey Johnston to play in his favoured left-wing
slot. For last weekend’s Betfred Cup final, Sinclair wasn’t even among the seven substitutes.
He maintains he has not sought an explanation from his manager for his sudden fall from grace but admits the situation hurts.
He continued: ‘I have got my head down, I don’t kick up a fuss.
‘Obviously I am really disappointed at those times when I am not getting the game time but I stay professional. I do my work.
‘I just try to be professional. It’s very
Some days you are training with the reserves. That’s very difficult. I just want to enjoy my football again
difficult to have done what
I’ve done over the last three years and then all of a sudden be pushed to the side.
‘You come in every day and sometimes you’re not with the team, not travelling to games and not involved.
‘Some days you are training with the reserves. That’s very difficult.
‘I have been very professional. I am always in the gym, doing extra to keep my body in good nick.
‘I think it’s probably the best it has ever been to be honest because I am more in the gym than getting game time.
‘That’s what keeps me ticking over, fit and ready for when I get the chance to play.’
The marginalisation of Sinclair makes Celtic’s decision to trigger an extra year on his contract all the more baffling.
Drifting towards the end of his initial three-year deal in May, Parkhead chief executive Peter Lawwell activated an option to keep the former Manchester City player on board for another 12 months. Initially usurped by the emerging Johnston at left wing, the loan signing of Mohamed Elyounoussi from Southampton pushed Sinclair further down the pecking order.
Prior to Thursday’s start, Sinclair had made six appearances from the bench this season, scoring two goals.