How Celtic could use an in-form Scott Sinclair.
The former Chelsea, Manchester City and Aston Villa man was a star in the Hoops. Far and away the best player at the club during his first season, Sinclair was energetic and productive.
In that 16-17 campaign, he contributed to 31 goals in 35 Premiership games [Transfermarkt], with his electric pace and eye for goal reinvigorating the Celtic attack. An absolute steal for Brendan Rodgers, his impact was immense.
Now at Preston North End, the winger has been in a reflective mood. Speaking to Graham Spiers of The Times, it’s clear that he still holds a great deal of affection for Celtic.
Sinclair said [The Times – paywall]:
“Being at Celtic gave me some of the best moments of my career.”
“I absolutely loved it. Given what we did in my time there, doing the treble treble, I feel we couldn’t have done much more.
“All the accolades that came my way, winning Player of the Year, being top goalscorer, all those things that happened, individually to me and collectively as a team, just made it very special.
“Plus, the fans took to me straight away. Every single time I stepped on the pitch and heard that song they sang about me, it gave me such a buzz.
“I think it is only when you look back on it, then you can really see how special those times were at Celtic.”
Celtic hero Scott Sinclair: victim of his own success?
It would be unfair to say that Sinclair suffered diminishing returns at Celtic. After all, he was effective in all but his last season at the club.
However, he was never fully able to carry on the outstanding form from his first campaign. A victim of his own success, perhaps. By the end of his time at Celtic, Sinclair just couldn’t get a look-in under Neil Lennon.
Sinclair continued:
“I think that, because I set such high standards for myself in my first season, it became an issue of me keeping up to those standards.
“In my second season I still got goals, my tally was still OK, but some felt I was dropping [my standards].
“If you set the bar so high — like in my opening season — then you do have to try to maintain that. I felt that, even when I was going through a dip, I was still scoring goals. But it then got to the stage where I was in and out of the team, even though I still felt that, when I played, I’d make something happen.
“I do still think that people [judged me by] my first year at Celtic, and how unbelievable it was for me. But things change. Someone has new ideas, and obviously my time was up at Celtic.
“I had to take up a new challenge and I always want to stay true to myself. My last six months at Celtic were a tough time but, at the same time, I’m gone from there now, and I’m enjoying my football again.”
A winning legacy
Domestically, Scott Sinclair couldn’t have done any more for Celtic Football Club. That’s why it left such a bad taste when the club discarded him to Preston North End.
At only 31, he could’ve adapted under Neil Lennon. His work rate and stamina meant he could’ve, in time, changed his game to meet the needs of the manager.
Regardless of how he left, he will always be remembered by those who followed Celtic over the last decade. An incredibly reliable goal-scorer, a fan favourite and someone who played his heart out for supporters who loved him back.
READ MORE: An unlikely target for praise?
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