After Celtic’s 5-0 win over St Mirren yesterday, all the attention will turn to a week’s time, when the Hoops take on Rangers in the fourth Glasgow derby of the season.
One player who you imagine will be eager to start is Ryan Christie. After all, he didn’t have the best of games against Rangers the last time the teams played each other, missing a penalty and then receiving a ban after an incident with Alfredo Morelos.
However, and this might seem hard to believe when you consider how well he has played this season, there is no guarantee that Christie will start at Ibrox.
Didn’t start recent emphatic victory
He didn’t start the win over St Mirren, and has been in and out of the side since returning from injury and suspension.
Now, Neil Lennon might well decide to introduce Christie back into the starting line-up for the trip to Ibrox. After all, he has scored 19 goals for the Hoops this season.
However, Christie has no reason to threat should he miss out on the starting line-up, and end up on the bench. He could be a vital asset to the Hoops from off the bench, especially if the Ibrox side are tiring in the second-half.
Ideal player to lead a counter-attack
Christie is just the player to lead a Celtic counter-attack, and his ability to take a shot at goal could also be an asset worth exploring.
Even if Christie doesn’t start, he is sure to be a key man for the Hoops for the rest of the season, in the quest to win both the treble and nine in a row.
Neil Lennon will have plenty of thinking to do about Christie, as the team did play very well without him in the starting line-up against St Mirren.
Of course, Rangers are a better team than St Mirren, therefore you would expect your best players to start at Ibrox…but at the moment, the Hoops might be a better team with Christie on the bench. Only time will tell, but Christie can still be a key man for Celtic even if he doesn’t start at Ibrox.
Would you start Ryan Christie at Ibrox? Would it be better to start him off the bench? Share your thoughts below in our new discussion forum…
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